Nearly three decades of flight records and court documents have revealed that Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, logged approximately 90 flights into and out of UK airports, sometimes accompanied by British women who claim they were victims of his abuse. This finding, brought to light by a recent BBC investigation and corroborated by documents released by Epstein’s estate, has reignited calls for a comprehensive investigation into Epstein’s activities on British soil—a demand that, so far, has gone largely unanswered by UK authorities.
According to the BBC, the flight logs—spanning from the early 1990s to 2018—show Epstein’s private jets making regular stops at airports including London Luton, Birmingham International, RAF Marham, and Edinburgh. Three British women, who allege they were trafficked by Epstein, appear repeatedly in these records. For one of the women, known only as Kate, Epstein reportedly paid for more than ten flights in and out of the UK between 1999 and 2006. These journeys, detailed in both flight manifests and supporting documents, paint a troubling picture of cross-border movement closely tied to Epstein’s illicit operations.
Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that at least 15 of these flights occurred after Epstein’s 2008 conviction in the United States for soliciting sex from a minor. The BBC notes that among the passengers listed in the logs are unidentified “females,” a recurring and ambiguous entry that has fueled suspicions about the nature of these trips. US attorneys representing hundreds of Epstein’s victims have described the UK as a “centrepiece” of his trafficking network, expressing astonishment that British authorities have yet to mount a full-scale investigation into his activities there.
“It is shocking there has never been a full-scale UK investigation into his activities in Europe,” attorney Sigrid McCawley told the BBC. “The authorities in the UK have failed to take a closer look at those flights, at where he was at, who he was seeing at those moments, and who was with him on those planes, and conducted a full investigation.”
The lack of investigative action is particularly striking given that testimony from one British victim was instrumental in the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidante and accomplice, for child sex trafficking in the US in 2021. Despite the significance of her evidence, the BBC reports that UK police have never contacted her. Brad Edwards, a Florida-based lawyer representing the woman, confirmed to the broadcaster that she has not been approached by British authorities.
The Metropolitan Police, when questioned by the BBC, stated, “We have not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation.” The force added that “should new and relevant information be brought to our attention,” including any material resulting from the release of US documents, “we will assess it.”
The revelations come at a time when the US government is poised to release a trove of files related to Epstein. A bill mandating the disclosure of all government-held documents concerning Epstein passed the US House and Senate in November 2025, despite strong opposition from former President Donald Trump. The Department of Justice has been given until December 19, 2025, to comply, with hundreds of thousands of pages expected to be made public. In addition, a federal judge recently ruled that investigative materials from the sex-trafficking case against Maxwell—who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence—can also be released.
The scale of Epstein’s operations in the UK, as outlined by the BBC and The Guardian, is underscored by the breadth of his travel. The flight logs reveal not only frequent journeys to and from London but also trips to Scotland, including Edinburgh Airport. In one notable instance, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (commonly known as Prince Andrew) is documented as having flown from Luton to Edinburgh aboard Epstein’s private jet in September 2006, just two months after Epstein’s arrest on sex abuse charges. Ghislaine Maxwell was also on board, along with two other passengers, for a private wedding. This connection, while not evidence of wrongdoing, has fueled ongoing public scrutiny of the prince’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.
Other high-profile names have surfaced in the context of Epstein’s UK travels. Steven Bannon, the former political adviser to Donald Trump, attended a conference in Edinburgh in November 2008. According to reports, Epstein discussed chartering a plane from Scotland for Bannon, who was scheduled to speak at the Oxford Union two days later. While there is no suggestion of Bannon’s involvement in any criminal activity, the anecdote illustrates the breadth of Epstein’s social and political connections in the UK and beyond.
For many advocates and legal experts, the most pressing question is why, given the volume of evidence and testimony, UK authorities have not pursued the matter more vigorously. Brad Edwards, who represents numerous British women allegedly abused by Epstein and his associates, told the BBC, “Several of my clients are British women who were abused on British soil both by Jeffrey Epstein and others.” He added that some victims were recruited in the UK before being trafficked to the United States, with more than 50 flights showing Epstein’s jets flying mostly into and out of London Luton Airport.
The Metropolitan Police’s cautious stance stands in stark contrast to the urgency expressed by US legal teams and victims’ advocates. As the BBC investigation highlights, the absence of a comprehensive UK inquiry leaves many questions unanswered—not only about the extent of Epstein’s activities in Britain but also about potential failures in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Meanwhile, the impending release of US government files and court materials could shed new light on the transatlantic dimensions of Epstein’s network. With the Department of Justice under deadline to comply with the congressional mandate, observers on both sides of the Atlantic are bracing for what could be a watershed moment in the ongoing quest for accountability. The Metropolitan Police have indicated they will review any new information that emerges, but for the victims and their advocates, the wait for justice—already painfully long—continues.
As more documents become public and the pressure for answers mounts, the story of Jeffrey Epstein’s UK connections is far from over. The coming months may finally force a reckoning with the dark legacy left by one of the world’s most notorious sex traffickers—and the lingering questions about who knew what, and when, in Britain’s corridors of power.
