The Litvinenko Inquiry

Part 6 | Chapters 1 to 8 | The polonium trail – events in October and November 2006
6.185 This aircraft was tested for contamination at Heathrow on 29 November 2006. It was
discovered that in the month or so since the aircraft had flown on 25 and 28 October,
it had undergone a refit, with about half the seats being removed and replaced, and
the balance being moved around within the aircraft. The seats in which Mr Lugovoy
had been sitting on those dates were, respectively, 6K and 4A. No contamination was
found on the seats in those positions when the aircraft was tested on 29 November
2006, although secondary contamination was detected on seat 16K. Secondary
contamination was also found on the overhead locker above seats 6J and 6K. 171
6.186 The seats that had been removed from the aircraft at the time of the refit (which had
taken place on 1 November 2006) had been taken to Blackwood in Wales. They were
also tested for contamination. 172 There were 118 seats in total, all of which had come
from G-BNWX. Three of these seats were found to contain secondary contamination.
Whilst they were marked 14A, 14B and 13A, it was unclear whether that was in fact
where they had been positioned on the aircraft.
6.187 Mr Lugovoy was to return to London within a few days, on Tuesday 31 October 2006.
This time he was accompanied by family and friends, on a trip to watch a football
match that had been planned several weeks before.
6.188 As we shall see, however, one change to the travel arrangements was made at short
notice. Mr Kovtun was not initially included in any of the travel bookings made in
relation to the 31 October trip. However, on 27 October, a ticket was purchased for
him to fly from London to Moscow on 3 November, on the same flight upon which all
the other members of the party were already booked to return home.
6.189 The booking of this ticket appears to mark the moment at which a decision was taken
to add Mr Kovtun to the party travelling to London the following week. If that is right,
the decision was taken midway through Mr Lugovoy’s stay at the Sheraton Hotel.
I will return in due course to consider whether this change of plan could have had any
connection with the contaminated bath towels and waste bin in room 848.
171
Mascall 12/95-103
172
Mascall 12/103-104
147