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Nimrod review reveals 'failures' | Nimrod review reveals 'failures' |
(10 minutes later) | |
An independent review into a fatal 2006 Nimrod crash, which killed 14 service personnel, has accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs. | |
The highly critical report, by Charles Haddon-Cave QC, said the Afghanistan crash occurred because of a "systemic breach" of the military covenant. | The highly critical report, by Charles Haddon-Cave QC, said the Afghanistan crash occurred because of a "systemic breach" of the military covenant. |
A safety review of the Nimrod MR2 carried out by the MoD, BAE Systems and QinetiQ was branded a "lamentable job". | A safety review of the Nimrod MR2 carried out by the MoD, BAE Systems and QinetiQ was branded a "lamentable job". |
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth apologised to victims' families. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth apologised to victims' families. |
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. |
Mr Haddon-Cave condemned the change of organisational culture within the MoD between 1998 and 2006, when financial targets came to distract from safety. | Mr Haddon-Cave condemned the change of organisational culture within the MoD between 1998 and 2006, when financial targets came to distract from safety. |
He quoted a former senior RAF officer who told his inquiry: "There was no doubt that the culture of the time had switched. | He quoted a former senior RAF officer who told his inquiry: "There was no doubt that the culture of the time had switched. |
"In the days of the RAF chief engineer in the 1990s, you had to be on top of airworthiness. | "In the days of the RAF chief engineer in the 1990s, you had to be on top of airworthiness. |
"By 2004 you had to be on top of your budget if you wanted to get ahead." | "By 2004 you had to be on top of your budget if you wanted to get ahead." |
Mr Haddon-Cave's report also criticised two RAF officers. | Mr Haddon-Cave's report also criticised two RAF officers. |
'Incompetence, complacency' | 'Incompetence, complacency' |
Mr Ainsworth told the Commons the two officers had been moved to staff posts which held no responsibility for safety and the RAF would now consider if any "further action" would be taken against them. | Mr Ainsworth told the Commons the two officers had been moved to staff posts which held no responsibility for safety 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. | 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. |
Mr Haddon-Cave said he had criticised 10 individuals in the report - five at the MoD, three at BAE Systems and two at QinetiQ - while throughout the review BAE Systems had been a company "in denial". | Mr Haddon-Cave said he had criticised 10 individuals in the report - five at the MoD, three at BAE Systems and two at QinetiQ - while throughout the review BAE Systems had been a company "in denial". |
NIMROD REPORT Independent review into broader issues surrounding loss of RAF Nimrod in Afghanistan in 2006 [4.62 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | NIMROD REPORT Independent review into broader issues surrounding loss of RAF Nimrod in Afghanistan in 2006 [4.62 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
A safety review of the ageing Nimrod MR2 a year before the crash, carried out by the MoD, BAE and QinetiQ, was a "lamentable job" which failed to identify "key dangers", he said. | A safety review of the ageing Nimrod MR2 a year before the crash, carried out by the MoD, BAE and QinetiQ, was a "lamentable job" which failed to identify "key dangers", he said. |
"Its production is a story of incompetence, complacency and cynicism. The best opportunity to prevent the accident to XV230 was tragically lost," he said. | "Its production is a story of incompetence, complacency and cynicism. The best opportunity to prevent the accident to XV230 was tragically lost," he said. |
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. | 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. |
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "This is a tragic case of an accident that could have been avoided." | Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "This is a tragic case of an accident that could have been avoided." |
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. | However, Mr Haddon-Cave found no reason to recommend the grounding of the entire Nimrod MR2 fleet. |
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 hopes Reaction to Nimrod crash report | 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 hopes Reaction to Nimrod crash report |
He has written to the families of the servicemen who died. | He 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. | Mr Ainsworth said the "rigorous" report would make distressing reading for the relatives of those who died. |
"On behalf of the MoD and the Royal Air Force, I would like again to say sorry to all the families who lost loved ones," he said. | "On behalf of the MoD and the Royal Air Force, I would like again to say sorry to all the families who lost loved ones," he said. |
"I am sorry for the mistakes that have been made and the lives that have been lost as a result of our failure. Nothing I can say or do will bring these men back." | "I am sorry for the mistakes that have been made and the lives that have been lost as a result of our failure. Nothing I can say or do will bring these men back." |
Mr Ainsworth said the MoD had already implemented measures to improve safety and airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet, insisting the department had not been "idle" while Mr Haddon-Cave's review was being carried out. | Mr Ainsworth said the MoD had already implemented measures to improve safety and airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet, insisting the department had not been "idle" while Mr Haddon-Cave's review was being carried out. |
This included the ending of air-to-air refuelling. | This included the ending of air-to-air refuelling. |
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. |
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. |
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 on the Nimrod, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, were: | The 14 men killed on the Nimrod, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, 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. |