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Tornado jet crash: One dead and two missing, feared dead | Tornado jet crash: One dead and two missing, feared dead |
(40 minutes later) | |
One of four air crew involved in a military jets crash in the Moray Firth has died and two others are feared dead, the RAF has said. | One of four air crew involved in a military jets crash in the Moray Firth has died and two others are feared dead, the RAF has said. |
The Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth, in north east Scotland, came down south of Wick on Tuesday afternoon. | The Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth, in north east Scotland, came down south of Wick on Tuesday afternoon. |
Two of the four involved were airlifted to hospital. The survivor was in a serious but stable condition in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. | Two of the four involved were airlifted to hospital. The survivor was in a serious but stable condition in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. |
The two others remain missing and the search for them has been called off. | The two others remain missing and the search for them has been called off. |
RAF Lossiemouth station commander, Gp Capt Ian Gale, said an officer from 15 (Reserve) Sqd had died. | RAF Lossiemouth station commander, Gp Capt Ian Gale, said an officer from 15 (Reserve) Sqd had died. |
Stationed at Lossiemouth, the squadron is what is known as an operational conversion unit. | Stationed at Lossiemouth, the squadron is what is known as an operational conversion unit. |
It trains pilots and weapon systems operators in flying Tornados, tactics and weapons. | It trains pilots and weapon systems operators in flying Tornados, tactics and weapons. |
Gp Capt Gale said: "A second crew member remains under medical care, where he is in a serious but stable condition. | Gp Capt Gale said: "A second crew member remains under medical care, where he is in a serious but stable condition. |
"Two additional personnel remain unaccounted for. | "Two additional personnel remain unaccounted for. |
"Due to extremely poor weather conditions in the area, the RAF and Her Majesty's Coastguard have made a joint decision not to resume search and rescue operations." | "Due to extremely poor weather conditions in the area, the RAF and Her Majesty's Coastguard have made a joint decision not to resume search and rescue operations." |
Gp Capt Gale added: "The operation will be resumed as a recovery operation as soon as possible, but we must be realistic. | Gp Capt Gale added: "The operation will be resumed as a recovery operation as soon as possible, but we must be realistic. |
"Given the length of time that has elapsed since the accident, there is no expectation of recovering missing personnel alive." | "Given the length of time that has elapsed since the accident, there is no expectation of recovering missing personnel alive." |
The station commander said families involved were being kept informed of developments. | The station commander said families involved were being kept informed of developments. |
He added: "It is important that we establish the facts of what happened and it is vital that the investigation is allowed to take its course. | He added: "It is important that we establish the facts of what happened and it is vital that the investigation is allowed to take its course. |
"But the priority now is to ensure that the families of those involved receive the support they need at this most difficult of times." | "But the priority now is to ensure that the families of those involved receive the support they need at this most difficult of times." |
Searches had been made for the two who remain missing but the Coastguard said the focus was now on recovery. | Searches had been made for the two who remain missing but the Coastguard said the focus was now on recovery. |
RAF personnel have boarded a vessel at Buckie harbour on the Moray coast. | RAF personnel have boarded a vessel at Buckie harbour on the Moray coast. |
The vessel, called Smit Yare, appeared to be preparing to leave port to take part in the salvage operation. | The vessel, called Smit Yare, appeared to be preparing to leave port to take part in the salvage operation. |
Wreckage from one of the aircraft was recovered by the Buckie lifeboat on Tuesday. | Wreckage from one of the aircraft was recovered by the Buckie lifeboat on Tuesday. |
Police and the Coastguard have been patrolling shorelines and members of the public have been asked to report any other debris found. | Police and the Coastguard have been patrolling shorelines and members of the public have been asked to report any other debris found. |
Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron said the thoughts of MPs were with the families and friends of the air crew involved. | Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron said the thoughts of MPs were with the families and friends of the air crew involved. |
He said the circumstances of the incident remained uncertain and investigations were continuing. | He said the circumstances of the incident remained uncertain and investigations were continuing. |
Mr Cameron added that the incident was also a reminder of the risks military personnel took in training as well as active operations. | Mr Cameron added that the incident was also a reminder of the risks military personnel took in training as well as active operations. |
Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, and Moray's MP Angus Robertson and MSP Richard Lochhead said their thoughts were with the families involved. | |
Mr Salmond said: "RAF Lossiemouth is at the heart of the community in Moray and I know how deeply and painfully this will touch not just the personnel and families directly connected with the base, but the whole region." | |
A family member of a serving member of the RAF at Lossiemouth told the BBC of concerns among the families of personnel about the risk of crashes. | A family member of a serving member of the RAF at Lossiemouth told the BBC of concerns among the families of personnel about the risk of crashes. |
The person, who asked not to be named, said cutbacks, staff shortages and long working hours had put pressure on air and ground crews. | The person, who asked not to be named, said cutbacks, staff shortages and long working hours had put pressure on air and ground crews. |
They said: "The reason that these crashes are happening is because everybody is undermanned, the engineers are overworked. | They said: "The reason that these crashes are happening is because everybody is undermanned, the engineers are overworked. |
"The planes are too old. They can no longer fix them properly." | "The planes are too old. They can no longer fix them properly." |
The family member added: "There's so much uncertainty. The guys are flying around with that in their heads and that is causing a massive amount of stress." | The family member added: "There's so much uncertainty. The guys are flying around with that in their heads and that is causing a massive amount of stress." |
The Ministry of Defence said it was not known at this stage what had caused the crash. | The Ministry of Defence said it was not known at this stage what had caused the crash. |
A spokesman said: "A full investigation into this incident will carried out by the Military Aviation Authority, which will be an independent investigation looking at all the possibilities of what might have happened. | A spokesman said: "A full investigation into this incident will carried out by the Military Aviation Authority, which will be an independent investigation looking at all the possibilities of what might have happened. |
"Nobody can say if mechanical failure, human error, or weather conditions could have caused the incident when the investigation hasn't even begun." | "Nobody can say if mechanical failure, human error, or weather conditions could have caused the incident when the investigation hasn't even begun." |