Harrier Jump Jet removed from eBay for breaking weapons rules
A decommissioned Harrier Jump Jet being offered for sale on eBay has been withdrawn because it contravenes the website’s policy on the sale of firearms, weapons and knives.
Harrier jet similar to one offered for sale on eBay Photo: PA
By Martin Evans 12:42PM GMT 11 Feb 2011
The iconic 1971 fighter aircraft had attracted more than 80 bids and had reached a sale price in excess of £100,000.
But despite the fact all missiles bombs and canon had been removed from the Harrier and it was being sold without an engine, eBay, were forced to de-list the item after realising the sale breached their strict policy on auctioning weapons.
The aircraft, which was lovingly restored by ex-RAF mechanic, Chris Wilson, 33, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was offered for sale last week with a starting price of £69,999.
But it soon attracted interest from around the world and bids were expected to top the £150,000 mark.
A spokesman for eBay said the sale had been withdrawn because the auction website operated strict policies on the sale of weapons.
There was also concern that the aircraft's sale could breach rules governing international arms trafficking.
The spokesman said: “We have strict policies in regards to the sale of military weaponry, meaning the jet should not have been listed for sale. We would like to apologise to the seller concerned for the inconvenience this has caused him.”
Current eBay policy states: ‘Most weapons can't be sold on eBay due to national and international laws, so our policies reflect this. Bear in mind that to safeguard the community, we may also ban other related items that are legal to sell outside of eBay.
‘Prohibited military items in terms of this policy are articles or services specifically designed, developed, configured, adapted or modified for a military application and:
• neither have predominant civil applications nor performance equivalent to those of an article or service used for civil applications, or
• have significant military or intelligence applicability.
'In addition to prohibiting the listing of military ordnance and other weapons mentioned above, military items listed by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are prohibited according to the United States federal laws and regulations.'
The eBay spokesman said the aircraft should not have been listed but with the website offering some 20 million items for sale it was impossible be aware of every auction.
The Harrier Jump Jet, which was designed to perform vertical take off and landing and could hover in mid-air, played a crucial role in helping Britain retake the Falkland Islands and also saw action in both Gulf Wars.
But in a controversial move the Government announced in October the entire fleet was being withdrawn from service in order to save money.
The Harrier was being offered for sale without its Rolls Royce engine, but Mr Wilson claimed one could be sourced and it could therefore be possible to make the aircraft air-worthy.
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