Anger as Nimrod ruling ignored

Families of 14 servicemen killed when a Nimrod spy plane exploded in mid-air have reacted with fury at the Government's decision not to ground the entire fleet.Assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire Andrew Walker recommended that every aircraft in the fleet, based at RAF Kinloss in Forres, Scotland, be grounded immediately until they are safe to fly.He found, following an inquest into the deaths, that the plane suffered a serious design flaw which meant that it "has never been airworthy" since its release to service more than 30 years ago.Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth has apologised to the families of the RAF servicemen who died in the Nimrod crash.In a statement issued following the coroner's verdict, he said: "My thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who died in XV230."I would like to reassure all those concerned that the Chief of the Air Staff has reaffirmed to me that the Nimrod is airworthy, and that we are dealing with all the issues raised by this incident."Andy Knight, brother of Sergeant Ben Knight, said the announcement by Mr Ainsworth was "an insult to everyone in this room, an insult to all the families".Robert Dicketts, father of Lance Corporal Oliver Dicketts, said: "Mr Ainsworth has not heard the evidence we have heard in the last few weeks."The evidence clearly states that the aircraft is not airworthy. I ask him to please read the transcript. We are talking about planes that are flying now, I wish to make that clear."Richard Mitchelmore, father of Flt Lt Leigh Mitchelmore, said: "The MoD are going to do absolutely nothing and these planes will still be flying and these boys will risk their lives every day."The families were in the process of giving a press conference following the coroner's verdict when they heard the news that the Government would not be following the coroner's recommendation. They reacted with gasps of horror.Earlier they had given a strong statement issued on behalf of all the families by their solicitor Andrew Tucker, saying: "The families call on the Government to confirm immediately that this crucial recommendation has been accepted and that the fleet is grounded without delay."Graham Knight, father of Sgt Ben Knight, said: "Mr Walker said that there had been a cavalier attitude to safety and that has become apparent in the last few weeks. My thoughts go out to all those flying today. I don't think that any more lives should be put at risk."Mr Walker told the court, which is sitting at Oxford's Old Assizes, that the crew and passengers "were not to know that this aircraft, like every other in the Nimrod fleet, was not airworthy. The aircraft was never airworthy from the first release to service in 1969."The RAF's most senior engineer, Air Marshal Sir Barry Thornton, said new air-to-air refuelling procedures meant the Nimrod was now "safe to fly".The crash, which happened as the crew prepared for landing following a secret mission in Afghanistan, was the biggest single loss of life suffered by the military since the Falklands War.Twelve of the men who died were from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss in Forres, Scotland. Two other servicemen who were travelling attached to the squadron also died.While Mr Walker can say the fleet should be grounded, the Ministry of Defence is under no obligation to carry out any such recommendations.The 12 RAF personnel killed were Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson, 38; Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28; Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40; Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39; Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28; Flight Sergeant Gary Wayne Andrews, 48; Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42; Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48; Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49; Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, 25; Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29; and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42.Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts, from the Parachute Regiment, 27; and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, also died.

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ITN | May 23, 2008

Tags:. .UK News. .kinloss. .airworthy. .ainsworth. .nimrod