Abu Qatada's jet cost taxpayer £50000, says aviation industry - The Guardian

The private jet flight taken by Abu Qatada to Jordan at the weekend cost the British taxpayer around £50,000, according to aviation industry estimates.

The radical cleric was flown out of RAF Northolt, west London, on a chartered jet operated by London Executive Aviation (LEA), which boasts it often ferries around heads of state, politicians and people from the film, music and sports industries.

The market rate for the charter of the 13-seat Embraer Legacy long-distance jet from London to Amman is £51,126, according to Private Fly, a booking agent that works with the plane's operator.

It is understood the fee was negotiated directly with the Home Office and LEA declined to comment on the arrangement. The expense adds to the estimated £1.7m cost of government efforts to remove the 53-year old preacher, who was on Sunday charged by military prosecutors in Amman with terrorism offences relating to plots in Jordan in 1998 and 1999.

The plane was equipped with a galley for hot and cold food, a full bar, a satellite telephone and data connection. The Home Office declined to comment on the charter "for operational security reasons".

It is unlikely that Abu Qatada, who has previously described as Osama bin Laden's righthand man in Europe, could have securely been transported on a scheduled flight.

Abu Qatada was accompanied by four Metropolitan police extradition officers on the flight and, it is understood, a representative of Adaleh, the Jordanian human rights organisation which is acting as a monitor. The plane returned to the UK from Marka airport in Amman shortly after 8am on Sunday morning.