🗞️ Story file #70
U.S. removes bombers from UK base over drone threat
Oct 4, 6 PM ET to Oct 7, 7 PM ET · 2 outlets not rated for lean
- 48outlets carried it
- 🫏18 · 11 · 17🐘left · center · right
- 3 dayson the front pages
- 46front pages at once, at its peak
- 152 minof TV captions
- 37radio newscasts
- 12people retold it online
- 2 of 5parts of a saga
👣 How this story traveled: from the front pages that broke it, out through TV, radio and the shows, into what people retold and what fact-checkers examined, and on into the saga it is part of. Everything here is matched to the story by our tools, so a link can be wrong; the trackers' pages say how each is made.
- Oct 4, 6 PM ETfirst on a front page: The Guardian
- Oct 4, 6 PM ETfirst on the radio: ABC News Update
- Oct 4, 8 PM ETfirst on TV: BBC News
- Oct 5, 4 PM ETpeak: on 46 front pages
- Oct 7, 4 AM ETretold online by 12 people
📰 Spread
the front pages that ran it, hour by hour
📡 wire copy: 1 outlet ran the AP, Reuters headline nearly word for word (USA Today)
📌 linked by aggregators: Google News
💬 quoted: “had a threat” 2 “Suffer Greatly” “Threats” “We had a threat” 3 “threats” “Caution” “abundance of caution” 2
🗣️ only one side says: 🫏 iranian drone 🐘 b-1 bombers
✏️ 23 outlets ran more than one headline on it (reworded, or a follow-up)
- ABC News (3 wordings): “US removes bombers from UK base after suspected plot” → “Concerns over Iran drone attack prompted pulling bombers from UK base, sources say”
- Axios (3 wordings): “U.S. B-1 bombers evacuated from UK base after attack threats from Iran” → “U.S. B-1 bombers evacuated from UK base because of threat of Iranian drone attack”
- BBC (4 wordings): “US removes all bombers from RAF Fairford base” → “Trump says 'threat' led US to pull bombers from RAF Fairford”
- Bloomberg (3 wordings): “Pentagon Redeploys Bombers From UK Base at Center of Terror Plot” → “Trump Says Terror Threats Forced B-1 Bombers Out of UK Base”
- Breitbart (4 wordings): “Dual UK-Iranian National Released on Bail After Being Held over Alleged Plot on RAF Air Base” → “Trump: ‘Threat’ Forced U.S. Bombers from UK Vows Iran Will ‘Suffer Greatly’ over Any Combat Drone Plot”
- CNBC (2 wordings): “All U.S. bombers leave UK air base on concerns of suspected terror plots; more tankers struck near Iran” → “'We had a threat': Trump explains U.S. moving long-range bombers from UK”
- Financial Times (3 wordings): “US recalls B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford following alleged terror plot” → “Trump says US pulled bombers from UK after ‘threats’”
- NBC News (5 wordings): “U.S. Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted in a suspected terrorist plot” → “Iranian drone threat prompted U.S. to remove bombers from British base, officials say”
- New York Post (2 wordings): “US yanks all B-1 bombers from UK base targeted in foiled terror plot” → “Concerns over possible Iranian drone attack prompted US to remove bombers from UK base”
- New York Times (4 wordings): “U.S. Rushes to Withdraw Bombers From U.K. Air Base After New Threats” → “Potential Iranian Drone Attack Led to Exit of U.S. Bombers From U.K. Air Base RAF Fairford”
- Newsmax (3 wordings): “Air Force Removes Bombers From Base in England” → “US Removes Bombers From England's RAF Fairford”
- Newsweek (2 wordings): “US Pulls Bombers From UK—What Does It Mean For Iran War?” → “Donald Trump Suggests Iran Link to RAF Fairford Threat”
- PBS NewsHour (2 wordings): “AP report: U.S. Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted by a suspected terror attack” → “Suspected Iranian drone plot pushed U.S. to evacuate bombers from British air base”
- Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty (2 wordings): “3 US Removes B-1 Bombers From UK Base After Suspected Terrorist Arrests” → “LIVE US Withdraws Bombers From UK Base Amid Reports Of Iran Plot”
- Red State (3 wordings): “US Pulls All 12 B-1 Bombers From British Base After New Iran Threat” → “Iran US Pulls All 12 B-1 Bombers From British Base After New Iran Threat Ward Clark”
- Reuters (6 wordings): “US removes B-1 bombers from UK base amid security concerns” → “Iran drone plot fears led US to remove bombers from UK base, US officials say”
- Straight Arrow News (2 wordings): “US pulls bombers from UK base after suspected terror plot; FlyDubai attacker’s past probed” → “US bombers leave UK base as Britain points to Iran in suspected terror plot”
- The Guardian (5 wordings): “US bombers sent home from RAF Fairford base after suspected terror plot” → “UK government insists airbase is safe after US withdraws its bombers from base”
- The Independent (4 wordings): “US Air Force withdraws all bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terror plot” → “Iran war latest: Trump says Tehran may have targeted UK airbase with drone attack and vows to make it ‘suffer’”
- The Sun (2 wordings): “BACK TO BASE US withdraws all bomber jets from RAF Fairford a week after 'terror plot'” → “BOMBER RUSH US withdraws bombers from RAF Fairford amid 'new threats' after 'Iran plot'”
- The Washington Times (2 wordings): “British-Iranian man arrested in connection with air base terror incident” → “U.S. Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted by a suspected terror attack”
- USA Today (2 wordings): “US removes B-1 bombers from UK base recently targeted in suspected terror plot, Pentagon official says” → “US pulls B-1 bombers from UK base amid security concerns”
- Yahoo News (2 wordings): “U.S. pulls all bombers from England base as Trump weighs more Iran strikes” → “U.S. bombers leave British base after suspected terror plot linked to Iran”
Every outlet's first headline (48), left to right by AllSides rating
HuffPost
U.S. Air Force Removes All Bombers From British Air Base Targeted By Suspected Terror Attack Oct 4, 9 PM ET
The Guardian
US bombers sent home from RAF Fairford base after suspected terror plot Oct 4, 6 PM ET
ABC News
US removes bombers from UK base after suspected plot Oct 5, 11 AM ET
AP
Dual UK-Iranian national released on bail over suspected plot against US-run military base Oct 3, 10 AM ET
Axios
U.S. B-1 bombers evacuated from UK base after attack threats from Iran Oct 4, 7 PM ET
CBS News
U.S. military removes bombers from U.K. air base following security incident Oct 4, 6 PM ET
CNBC
All U.S. bombers leave UK air base on concerns of suspected terror plots; more tankers struck near Iran Oct 4, 6 PM ET
CNN
• Breaking News Breaking News US removes all Air Force bombers from UK base following new threat The move comes days after the British government made arrests in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to target the air base Oct 4, 6 PM ET
NBC News
U.S. Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted in a suspected terrorist plot Oct 4, 7 PM ET
New York Times
U.S. Rushes to Withdraw Bombers From U.K. Air Base After New Threats Oct 4, 6 PM ET
PBS NewsHour
AP report: U.S. Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted by a suspected terror attack Oct 4, 6 PM ET
Semafor
UK foils suspected attack on air base used to strike Iran Oct 2, 5 PM ET
The Economist
Foiled plot: did Iran plan British base attack? Oct 2, 5 PM ET
The Independent
US Air Force withdraws all bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terror plot Oct 4, 7 PM ET
The Washington Post
U.S. military removes bombers from U.K. base targeted in suspected terror plot Oct 4, 7 PM ET
Time
Why the U.S. Bomber Withdrawal From a U.K. Air Base Is Significant Oct 5, 12 PM ET
USA Today
US removes B-1 bombers from UK base recently targeted in suspected terror plot, Pentagon official says Oct 4, 7 PM ET
Yahoo News
U.S. pulls all bombers from England base as Trump weighs more Iran strikes Oct 4, 6 PM ET
BBC
US removes all bombers from RAF Fairford base Oct 4, 6 PM ET
Bloomberg
Pentagon Redeploys Bombers From UK Base at Center of Terror Plot Oct 4, 6 PM ET
Chicago Tribune
US Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted by a suspected terror attack Oct 4, 6 PM ET- Financial Times US recalls B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford following alleged terror plot Oct 4, 6 PM ET
Fortune
Air Force removes all bombers from British base and redeploys them to the U.S. after a planned terror attack linked to Iran was foiled Oct 4, 8 PM ET
News Nation
Did a terror plot trigger US bomber withdrawal from British air base? Oct 5, 7 AM ET
Newsweek
US Pulls Bombers From UK—What Does It Mean For Iran War? Oct 5, 9 AM ET
Reuters
US removes B-1 bombers from UK base amid security concerns Oct 4, 6 PM ET
Scripps News
Iran War US removes all Air Force bombers from UK base following new threat Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Zachary Cohen Oct 5, 2 PM ET
Straight Arrow News
US pulls bombers from UK base after suspected terror plot; FlyDubai attacker’s past probed Oct 5, 8 AM ET
The Hill
Pentagon pulls B-1 bombers from UK base following alleged terror threat Oct 5, 9 AM ET
Just the News
U.S. bombers head back to America as security concerns grow at U.K. air base Oct 4, 5 PM ET
The American Conservative
Iran War Day 222: U.S. Pulled Bombers From UK Base on Iran Attack Fears Oct 7, 5 PM ET
The Epoch Times
B-1 Bombers Removed From UK Base After Suspected Iranian Terrorist Plot Oct 5, 7 AM ET
The Sun
BACK TO BASE US withdraws all bomber jets from RAF Fairford a week after 'terror plot' Oct 4, 9 PM ET
The Washington Times
British-Iranian man arrested in connection with air base terror incident Oct 3, 8 AM ET
Washington Examiner
US removes bombers from UK air base as security concerns reignite Oct 4, 9 PM ET
Breitbart
Dual UK-Iranian National Released on Bail After Being Held over Alleged Plot on RAF Air Base Oct 3, 10 AM ET
Fox News
US pulls all bombers from key UK base after suspected Iran-linked terror plot Oct 4, 9 PM ET
IJR
U.S. Pulls All 12 B-1 Bombers From Britain Over Suspected Terror Plot Oct 4, 7 PM ET
New York Post
US yanks all B-1 bombers from UK base targeted in foiled terror plot Oct 4, 6 PM ET
Newsmax
Air Force Removes Bombers From Base in England Oct 4, 6 PM ET- OAN Report: U.S. removes all bombers from UK base after suspected terror plot Oct 4, 7 PM ET
Red State
US Pulls All 12 B-1 Bombers From British Base After New Iran Threat Oct 4, 6 PM ET- The Daily Signal Why Did the US Suddenly Withdraw Its Bombers From RAF Fairford? Oct 5, 4 PM ET
The Gateway Pundit
U.S. Rushes a Dozen B-1 Bombers Out of Britain Following Suspected Iran-Backed Terror Plot Oct 4, 9 PM ET
The Western Journal
U.S. Quickly Pulls All B-1 Bombers from U.K. Base in Wake of Terror Threat Oct 5, 3 PM ET
Townhall
US Moves Bombers Out of the UK Out of Extreme 'Caution' Oct 5, 1 PM ET
RFE/RL
3 US Removes B-1 Bombers From UK Base After Suspected Terrorist Arrests Oct 4, 9 PM ET
The Washington Sun
U.S. Redeploys Bombers From British Base Targeted by Suspected Terrorists Oct 4, 6 PM ET
📡 Broadcast
TV, radio, and the shows that talked about it
📺 On TV
- US withdraws bombers from RAF Fairford BBC News, 64 min
- Pentagon: Bombers re-deployed to US bases BBC News, 16 min
- RAF Fairford was target of suspected terror plot BBC News, 12 min
- U.S. PULLS ALL BOMBERS FROM UK AIR BASE AFTER NEW THREAT CNN, 9 min
- U.S. REMOVES AIR FORCE BOMBERS FROM UK BASE AFTER NEW THREAT CNN, 7 min
- TRUMP: THREATS PROMPTED U.S. TO REMOVE BOMBERS FROM UK BASE CNN, 6 min
- US bombers withdraw BBC News, 4 min
- Trump says security fear led to bomber move BBC News, 4 min
📻 On the radio
- NPR News Now, Oct 7, 6:10 AM ET: the lead
- NPR News Now, Oct 7, 4:10 AM ET: the lead
- NPR News Now, Oct 6, 10:10 PM ET: the lead
- NPR News Now, Oct 6, 5:10 PM ET: story 2 of 2
- NPR News Now, Oct 6, 2:09 PM ET: the lead
- NPR News Now, Oct 6, 1:10 PM ET: story 2 of 2
- ABC News Update, Oct 6, 10:32 AM ET: story 3 of 4
- ABC News Update, Oct 6, 8:32 AM ET: story 5 of 5
- ABC News Update, Oct 6, 4:33 AM ET: story 2 of 3
- ABC News Update, Oct 6, 2:32 AM ET: story 2 of 3
- ABC News Update, Oct 6, 12:32 AM ET: story 2 of 3
- NPR News Now, Oct 6, 12:10 AM ET: story 2 of 7
🧶 Retelling
what people online made of it
🧶 Retold online
- The US withdrew its heavy bombers from a British air base in response to specific threats. Oct 7: told by 6 people; told before on Oct 6, Oct 5
- U.S. bombers were withdrawn from RAF Fairford due to concerns over a suspected Iran-linked drone attack plot. Oct 7: told by 6 people; told before on Oct 6, Oct 5
On Folklore: the latest in full, with their motifs and who is telling them.
🗣️ names in it: Iran Royal Air Force RAF Fairford U.S. military
🔎 Checking
what the fact-checkers looked into
🧐 No fact-checker has taken it on yet.
🧵 Persistence
the running story it belongs to
🧵 U.S. bombers leave UK base
UK-Iranian national released on bail over suspected plot at RAF base
Oct 3, 8 AM ET
U.S. removes bombers from UK base over drone threat (this story)
Oct 4, 6 PM ET
UK police make seventh arrest in us base terror probe
Oct 6, 10 AM ET
U.S. bombers withdrawn from UK base due to threat concerns
Oct 7, 9 AM ET
UK says Iran's IRGC likely directed airbase incident
Oct 12, 1 PM ET