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Nimrod review reveals 'failures' Nimrod review reveals 'failures'
(20 minutes later)
An independent review into a fatal 2006 Nimrod crash has blamed a "failure of culture, leadership and priorities", the defence secretary has told MPs.An independent review into a fatal 2006 Nimrod crash has blamed a "failure of culture, leadership and priorities", the defence secretary has told MPs.
The report found the MoD and RAF had allowed safety to suffer in pursuit of financial savings, Bob Ainsworth said.The report found the MoD and RAF had allowed safety to suffer in pursuit of financial savings, Bob Ainsworth said.
Fourteen crewmen died when the aircraft blew up after air-to-air refuelling over Afghanistan when leaking fuel made contact with a hot air pipe.Fourteen crewmen died when the aircraft blew up after air-to-air refuelling over Afghanistan when leaking fuel made contact with a hot air pipe.
Report author Charles Haddon-Cave QC also criticised two RAF officers.Report author Charles Haddon-Cave QC also criticised two RAF officers.
'Genuinely shocking'
Mr Ainsworth told the Commons they had been moved to staff posts and the RAF would now consider if any "further action" would be taken against them.
He also said Mr Haddon-Cave, one of Britain's leading aviation law barristers, had been critical of both the Ministry of Defence and its industrial partners at both organisational and individual levels.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the report was a "formidable indictment" and "genuinely shocking", containing information that previous incidents and warning signs had been ignored.
The Ministry of Defence has grounded all Nimrods whose engine-bay hot air ducts had not been replaced.The Ministry of Defence has grounded all Nimrods whose engine-bay hot air ducts had not been replaced.
However, Mr Haddon-Cave found no reason to recommend the grounding of the entire Nimrod MR2 fleet.
Other shortcomings found in the report included:
  • A military airworthiness system not fit for purpose
  • A safety case regime which is ineffective and wasteful
  • A safety culture that has allowed "business" to eclipse airworthiness
'Never airworthy''Never airworthy'
Mr Haddon-Cave QC, one of Britain's leading aviation law barristers, has written to the families of the servicemen who died. Mr Haddon-Cave has written to the families of the servicemen who died.
Mr Ainsworth said the "rigorous" report would make distressing reading for the relatives of those who died.
At the inquest last year into the men's deaths on 2 September 2006, the coroner Andrew Walker called for the entire fleet to be grounded.At the inquest last year into the men's deaths on 2 September 2006, the coroner Andrew Walker called for the entire fleet to be grounded.
HOW THE NIMROD CRASHED 1. Nimrod refuels in mid-air2. Possible fuel over-flow from number one tank3.Second possible source of leak is pipe couplings behind number seven tank4. Leaked fuel contacts hot pipe and ignites5. Fire and smoke alarms triggered in bomb bay and underfloor by sensitive wiring Nimrod crash review raises hopesHOW THE NIMROD CRASHED 1. Nimrod refuels in mid-air2. Possible fuel over-flow from number one tank3.Second possible source of leak is pipe couplings behind number seven tank4. Leaked fuel contacts hot pipe and ignites5. Fire and smoke alarms triggered in bomb bay and underfloor by sensitive wiring Nimrod crash review raises hopes
Mr Walker said the aircraft had "never been airworthy," but the then Defence Secretary Des Browne, who ordered the review, insisted they were safe to fly.Mr Walker said the aircraft had "never been airworthy," but the then Defence Secretary Des Browne, who ordered the review, insisted they were safe to fly.
The MoD has since admitted negligence in relation to the explosion.The MoD has since admitted negligence in relation to the explosion.
Mike Bell, whose brother Gerard died in the crash, told the BBC he wanted senior staff to be named and held to account.Mike Bell, whose brother Gerard died in the crash, told the BBC he wanted senior staff to be named and held to account.
"Certain people caused that aircraft to crash because of their incompetence in not recognising faults and areas of concern with the airworthiness of the Nimrod," he said."Certain people caused that aircraft to crash because of their incompetence in not recognising faults and areas of concern with the airworthiness of the Nimrod," he said.
"Had they been doing their jobs properly, or had they handed the task onto people who knew how to do those jobs, the aircraft would not have been at risk and would not have crashed.""Had they been doing their jobs properly, or had they handed the task onto people who knew how to do those jobs, the aircraft would not have been at risk and would not have crashed."
Lessons to learnLessons to learn
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the review, which began in January, had a broad remit.BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the review, which began in January, had a broad remit.
It has looked at the airworthiness of the Nimrod MR2 fleet since its introduction into service in 1979.It has looked at the airworthiness of the Nimrod MR2 fleet since its introduction into service in 1979.
The 14 men killed were: The 14 men killed on the Nimrod, based at RAF Kinloss, were:
Flt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool.Flt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool.
Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester.Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester.
L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere.L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere.