RAF jet crash could have been prevented with warning systems
THE COLLISION of two fighter jets off the Caithness coast could have been prevented if both aircraft had been fitted with an on-board warning collision system.
The Ministry of Defence has published its report into how two RAF Tornado GR4 fighter jets crashed 25km east of Wick in July 2012, identifying 17 contributory factors to the accident.
The report confirmed that neither fighter jet was fitted with an anti-collision warning system, but said that was not the only cause of the collision.
Among the contributory factors which lead to the collision highlighted within the report included weather conditions, “ineffective” squadron level supervision and shortcomings of the risk management process.
The Military Aviation Authority completed its 18 month investigation into the crash which killed three men and left one severely injured.
Flt Lt Hywel Poole (28), from Bangor, died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after being airlifted from the scene. The bodies of Sqd Ldr Samuel Bailey (35), from Nottingham, and Flt Lt Adam Sanders (27), from Lancashire, were recovered two weeks after the crash.
Squadron Leader Paul Evans from Staffordshire survived the crash and was in hospital for six months before being released home.
Wick RNLI was the first lifeboat on the scene at the Beatrice oil field, 25 kilometres east of the town when the collision happened.
It acted as the command vessel and co-ordinated the operation involving five other vessels, which included lifeboat crews from Buckie and Invergordon.
The six crew on the Roy Barker II conducted a four hour search until they were told to stand down by the MOD.
Read more in Wednesday’s Caithness Courier.