London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Oct 12, 2026

Helicopter pilot flew 80 miles for roast beef sandwich in lockdown

Helicopter pilot flew 80 miles for roast beef sandwich in lockdown

A helicopter pilot is said to have flown 80 miles for a sandwich in a journey branded a ‘flagrant abuse’ of lockdown rules.

The unnamed pilot was filmed landing to collect the ‘roast beef in caramelised onion gravy barm’ from Chipping Farm Shop in Chipping, a village in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.

A resident is thought to have monitored the helicopter from City Airport in Salford, Greater Manchester, to the shop using a flight-tracking website, the Blackpool Gazette reported.

The shop posted footage on Instagram showing a member of staff handing over a green plastic bag to the pilot, before turning around and giving a ‘thumbs up’ to the camera.

It added the caption: ‘When your customers are literally flying in to collect their favourite “Roast Beef in Caramelised Onion Gravy Barms”.’

But the video has sparked fury and is now being investigated by police.

Some Instagram users criticised the shop for its conduct, with one commenting: ‘Not something to brag about during a pandemic’.

One NHS worker, who said he is living in a caravan on a driveway to protect his nan during the coronavirus crisis, said he was ‘disgusted’.



And another slammed the pilot for ‘blatant rule breaking combined with complete lack of sensitivity.’


But others hailed the pilot a ‘legend’ and insisted they had done nothing wrong – accusing critics of being ‘jealous’.

One said: ‘So I can travel to McDonald’s drive through but I can’t take my helicopter out to collect food, seems a little odd to me.

Another said: ‘Fully support the shop and the pilot – some people love to moan.’

A local councillor who represents Chipping described the trip as ‘a flagrant abuse of the restrictions on travel under the current lockdown rules,’ the BBC reported.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets German Chancellor Merz to Strengthen European Security Ties
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
UK Security Services Find Strong Indications of Iranian Role in RAF Fairford Incident
Costa Coffee Returns to Operating Profit on Iced Drinks and Menu Changes
Asos Warns Customers After Unauthorized Access to Retail App and Data
Kemi Badenoch Puts Growth and Deregulation at Center of Conservative Conference
Campaigners Warn of Deepening Social Care Crisis for Disabled Adults
Study Finds Rising Early-Onset Cancer Rates Among Adults Under 50 in Britain
UK Coach Operators Warn High Diesel Prices Could Force Route Cuts
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein-Linked Whistleblower Case
Argentina Vows to Block Falkland Islands Offshore Oil Development
UK Chancellor Prepares Fiscal Measures and Welfare Reforms Ahead of Autumn Budget
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons Explore Potential Multi-Billion-Pound Merger
UK Weighs Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles to Align With European Union
UK Threatens Diplomatic Expulsions Over Planned Closure of East Jerusalem Consulate
UK Energy Price Cap Hits Three-Year High as Middle East Conflict Raises Costs
Seventh Arrest Made in Suspected Terror Plot at RAF Fairford
Systemic Education Collapse Sparks Mass Student Uprisings in France
Green Party Faces Backlash Over Resolution Equating Zionism With Racism
Conservatives Debate Scrapping Environmental Rules for New Homes
Cornwall Insight Warns UK Energy Bills Could Approach £2,000 This Winter
UK Coach Operators Warn of Service Cuts as Diesel Prices Exceed £2
Scottish Parliament Approves £68 Billion Budget With New Tax and Property Measures
FCA Opens Independent Review Into Handling of Epstein Whistleblower
UK Government Drops Plan to Suspend Jury Trials in England and Wales
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Markets Watch November
Two Iranian Nationals Charged Over Alleged Plot Targeting Manchester Jewish Community
UK Fiscal Headroom Halves to £11 Billion Ahead of Budget, EY Warns
×