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| Fuel leak blamed for Nimrod crash | Fuel leak blamed for Nimrod crash |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| An RAF Nimrod crash which killed 14 people was probably caused by a fuel leak following air-to-air refuelling, an inquiry has found. | An RAF Nimrod crash which killed 14 people was probably caused by a fuel leak following air-to-air refuelling, an inquiry has found. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne apologised to relatives of the victims of the Nimrod MR2 explosion in Afghanistan in September last year. | Defence Secretary Des Browne apologised to relatives of the victims of the Nimrod MR2 explosion in Afghanistan in September last year. |
| Mr Browne insisted the Nimrod fleet was still safe to fly. | Mr Browne insisted the Nimrod fleet was still safe to fly. |
| But the Tories said troops were "operating at a tempo well in excess of that for which they are resourced". | |
| The accident saw the biggest loss of life among British forces in a single incident since the Falklands War. | |
| Mr Browne said there was to be a review of the arrangements for ensuring the airworthiness and safe operation of the Nimrod MR2. | |
| READ THE BRIEFING Nimrod XV230 [152KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE BRIEFING Nimrod XV230 [152KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| "My department has taken a number of steps to ensure that a similar accident cannot occur again," Mr Browne told the Commons. | "My department has taken a number of steps to ensure that a similar accident cannot occur again," Mr Browne told the Commons. |
| "We are learning the lessons from the accident and have already implemented many of the recommendations of the BOI report." | "We are learning the lessons from the accident and have already implemented many of the recommendations of the BOI report." |
| These include reviews of the Nimrod's fuel and hot air systems and air-to-air refuelling procedures. | These include reviews of the Nimrod's fuel and hot air systems and air-to-air refuelling procedures. |
| Hot air pipes | Hot air pipes |
| The MoD Board of Inquiry (BOI) report concluded that fuel probably escaped into a bay on the starboard side of flight XV230 either because of a leaking coupling in the fuel system or an overflowing fuel tank. | The MoD Board of Inquiry (BOI) report concluded that fuel probably escaped into a bay on the starboard side of flight XV230 either because of a leaking coupling in the fuel system or an overflowing fuel tank. |
| The fuel probably caught fire when it made contact with hot air pipes which could have been as hot as 400C. | The fuel probably caught fire when it made contact with hot air pipes which could have been as hot as 400C. |
| [The crew] acted throughout with calm professionalism, and did everything possible to save their aircraft Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy The report also highlighted a number of factors which could have contributed to the explosion. | [The crew] acted throughout with calm professionalism, and did everything possible to save their aircraft Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy The report also highlighted a number of factors which could have contributed to the explosion. |
| These included the age of some of the Nimrod's components, the maintenance of the fleet's fuel and hot air systems and the lack of fire detectors and extinguishers within the area where the fire started. | These included the age of some of the Nimrod's components, the maintenance of the fleet's fuel and hot air systems and the lack of fire detectors and extinguishers within the area where the fire started. |
| Mr Browne said: "On behalf of the MoD and the Royal Air Force, I would like to apologise to the House of Commons, and most of all to those who lost their lives, and to their families. | Mr Browne said: "On behalf of the MoD and the Royal Air Force, I would like to apologise to the House of Commons, and most of all to those who lost their lives, and to their families. |
| "I am sorry." | "I am sorry." |
| The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy, said the Nimrod's crew "behaved in an exemplary manner during the tragic events". | The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Glenn Torpy, said the Nimrod's crew "behaved in an exemplary manner during the tragic events". |
| He said the BOI stated that the crew "were faced with a series of complex and demanding emergencies and acted throughout with calm professionalism, and did everything possible to save their aircraft". | He said the BOI stated that the crew "were faced with a series of complex and demanding emergencies and acted throughout with calm professionalism, and did everything possible to save their aircraft". |
| "Their families, friends and colleagues should be very proud of them all." | "Their families, friends and colleagues should be very proud of them all." |
| 'Appalling record' | |
| NIMROD CRASH VICTIMS Flt Lt Allan Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, MerseysideFlt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, NottinghamshireFlt Lt Gareth Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, CornwallFlt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from LiverpoolFlt Lt Leigh Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, DorsetFlt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, BuckinghamshireFlt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, KentFlt Sgt Gerard Bell, 48, from Newport, ShropshireFlt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from DundeeSgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from ManchesterSgt Ben Knight, 25, from BridgewaterSgt John Langton, 29, from LiverpoolMarine Joseph Windall, 22 from Hazlemere L/Cpl Oliver Dicketts, from Wadhurst UK fatalities in Afghanistan | |
| Graham Knight, 55, whose son 25-year-old Ben was killed, said the findings showed the RAF had "betrayed" those who died. | |
| "This proves there was a horrifying catalogue of failures from shoddy maintenance to the use of air-to-air refuelling. | |
| "The Nimrod has an appalling safety record, yet 14 families have been left grieving husbands, sons and fathers for no reason." | |
| The MoD had defended the fleet's safety record against accusations of fuel leaks and questions over cost cutting. | |
| But Tory spokesman Gerald Howarth said it was "nothing short of a scandal" that the Nimrod had not been replaced by a newer model four years ago. | |
| "The MoD has received repeated warnings about problems with fuel leaks in the Nimrod but failed to tackle the problem," Mr Howarth said. |