Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Former F1 Chief Ecclestone Stopped in Portugal Over Shotgun
Bernie Ecclestone was stopped by police in Portugal after they found a shotgun on his private plane.
He said he had brought it from Switzerland for clay pigeon shooting.
However, he did not have the required paperwork to bring the gun into Portugal.
Ecclestone said he had already passed through customs when police asked about the weapon.
His wife, Fabiana, took the gun to authorities in Lisbon.
Ecclestone signed documents requested by officials.
Portuguese newspapers said the shotgun was found during a routine check.
The incident was similar to a 2022 case in Brazil involving a small handgun.
Bernie Ecclestone was stopped at a Portuguese airport after police found a shotgun on his private jet.
The 95-year-old said he brought the gun from Switzerland for a clay pigeon shooting event.
He lacked the required “blue book” documentation to import the shotgun into Portugal.
Ecclestone’s wife, Fabiana, accompanied a customs official to Lisbon to surrender the gun.
The incident recalled Ecclestone’s brief detention in Brazil in 2022 over an unregistered handgun.
- Who
- Former Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone, his wife Fabiana, and Portuguese authorities.
- What
- Ecclestone was stopped after police found a shotgun on his private jet without the required import documentation.
- When
- Monday; the related shooting event was scheduled for that weekend.
- Where
- Tires airfield near Cascais, Portugal, with the gun later surrendered in Lisbon.
- Why
- He said he brought the shotgun from Switzerland for clay pigeon shooting but lacked the required “blue book”.
Ecclestone’s Account
Authorities’ Account
Nature of the incident
Ecclestone’s Account
Ecclestone described the matter as unnecessary aggravation involving a gun he used for clay pigeon shooting.
Authorities’ Account
Police sources cited by Portuguese newspapers said the shotgun was discovered during a routine check and required documentation was missing.
Handling of the weapon
Ecclestone’s Account
Ecclestone said the gun was intended for a shooting event and that he signed the documents authorities requested.
Authorities’ Account
Authorities required the weapon to be surrendered in Lisbon after identifying the documentation problem.
- Person
- Bernie Ecclestone, former Formula One commercial chief
- Age
- 95
- Location
- Tires airfield near Cascais, outside Lisbon
- Weapon
- A shotgun brought from Switzerland
- Documentation issue
- Ecclestone lacked the required “blue book” to import the gun
- Resolution
- The gun was surrendered to Portuguese authorities in Lisbon
- Earlier incident
- Ecclestone was briefly detained in Brazil in 2022 over an unregistered handgun