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Afghanistan helicopter crash crew 'could have been naughty' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Five British servicemen who died in a helicopter crash could only have attempted to create a feeling of weightlessness if they had been "actively naughty", an inquest heard. | |
The Army Air Corps Lynx crashed near Kandahar airbase, Afghanistan in 2014. | |
A service inquiry published last year said the pilots may have been attempting to simulate the feeling of zero gravity just before impact. | A service inquiry published last year said the pilots may have been attempting to simulate the feeling of zero gravity just before impact. |
Their families have denied they would carry out such a stunt. | Their families have denied they would carry out such a stunt. |
Oxford Coroner's Court heard how voice recordings from the cockpit revealed one of the men on board saying they had a "Voyager flashback" - a reference to a previous incident in which a military plane lost height and created a feeling of weightlessness. | |
The crew | The crew |
Questioning senior flying instructor Major David Sams, counsel for the Faulkner family Michael Rawlinson, said: "It would be difficult to induce 'a bit of floaty' when you're [starting the descent], wouldn't it? You'd have to be actively naughty to induce a bit of floaty?" | Questioning senior flying instructor Major David Sams, counsel for the Faulkner family Michael Rawlinson, said: "It would be difficult to induce 'a bit of floaty' when you're [starting the descent], wouldn't it? You'd have to be actively naughty to induce a bit of floaty?" |
Maj Sams replied: "Yes." | Maj Sams replied: "Yes." |
Responding to a question about producing negative g-force - which can cause feelings of weightlessness - he added: "I'm not convinced you'd get [it] on a descent. It is more likely on a tactical climb." | Responding to a question about producing negative g-force - which can cause feelings of weightlessness - he added: "I'm not convinced you'd get [it] on a descent. It is more likely on a tactical climb." |
All five men on board the aircraft were killed in April 2014 after it descended 25ft (7.5m) in half a second. | |
Maj Sams said it would have been difficult for the crew to execute a recovery from such a low level, when travelling at speed. | Maj Sams said it would have been difficult for the crew to execute a recovery from such a low level, when travelling at speed. |
A military investigation into the crash ruled out any mechanical failures or enemy action - blaming instead a series of human factors. | A military investigation into the crash ruled out any mechanical failures or enemy action - blaming instead a series of human factors. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
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