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Britain has impounded a private jet at Farnborough airport as it investigates whether it has breached a flight ban over the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Breakfast that the UK’s new aviation sanctions would close gaps allowing people to get around the ban on Russian airlines and private jets.

“However there were potential loopholes and I also wanted to make the issue a criminal one, so last night I also signed a law which closes off some of those loopholes to do with trying to work out the ownership of some of these aircraft.

“There is one such aircraft on the ground at Farnborough that I have essentially impounded whilst we carry out further investigations, for the last few days.

Sources said that establishing the true owner was complicated – and made more so by Mr Shvidler’s residency, as a dual US-Russian citizen.

The Department for Transport was alerted soon after its landing at Farnborough Airport on Friday morning. It filed a flight plan on Monday and was due to depart on Tuesday, according to government sources.

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