A private jet which left Inverness for Moscow despite government sanctions had been in the Russian capital one day earlier, we can reveal.
Flight tracking data shows the Panaviatic-operated plane was in Moscow on February 25, before flying to Geneva and then Amsterdam later that same day.
The next morning the Estonian-registered Learjet departed for Inverness to take a family of three onward to Moscow, despite a ban on Russian flights being introduced the previous evening.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced calls this week to reveal the identities of the passengers, amid online speculation they may have been linked to Russian oligarchs.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps initially blamed Inverness Airport for failing to comply with the ban, which covers aircraft owned, chartered or operated by a person “connected with Russia”.
But we revealed that the Home Office, police and national air traffic controllers all cleared the flight for take-off.
Records on Flightradar24 air traffic database show the aircraft, which can be chartered by customers, has not been to any other Scottish airport in the last nine months.
However, it regularly flies to Farnborough near London, including on May 19.
European destinations
The seven-seat jet was in Newcastle earlier this week, and Bristol twice this month.
Tallinn, Amsterdam, Geneva and Moscow are other well-used stop-offs.
After the Inverness flight arrived in Moscow on February 26, the jet departed for Geneva later that same day.
It is not known whether any of the trips before or after the Inverness to Moscow flight were part of the same charter.
SNP Gordon MP Richard Thomson demanded answers at prime minister’s questions on May 18.
He said: “Air traffic control transcripts published this week in The Press and Journal newspaper have revealed that, despite being informed of the intended flight, no attempt was made by the UK Government or their agencies to prevent the plane from taking off.
“Will the prime minister commit to informing the House at the earliest opportunity who was travelling on that flight?
“Why, despite being informed in advance of the flight, was no attempt made by the UK Government to keep the plane on the ground?
“What will the prime minister personally do to try to prevent any similar breaches of sanctions from happening?”
Mr Johnson said: “I do not know the answer to the honourable member’s question, but as soon as we can get some information about that, I will make sure that the House is properly informed.”