ONE of the four members of the air crew involved when two RAF Tornadoes crashed in the North Sea has died, officials said yesterday, and there was “no expectation” of recovering two missing airmen alive.
• Two RAF Tornadoes went down in the Moray Firth yesterday
• One dies, but two remain missing, with a fourth member in a serious but stable condition in hospital
• No expectation that the two missing airmen will be found alive
• Working conditions have been criticised amid claims that airmen are “knackered” and flying old equipment due to funding cuts
• MoD spokesman calls fatigue claims “pure speculation”, adding that full investigation has yet to be carried out
The fourth crew member was in a serious but stable condition in hospital last night, following the crash off the Moray coast.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community where the airmen were based at RAF Lossiemouth, amid claims RAF personnel were “knackered” and flying old equipment because of funding cuts.
But a Ministry of Defence spokesman hit out at the suggestion the accident was down to tiredness, saying the timing of the accusation was insensitive while a recovery operation for the men was continuing. Continue reading
