Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230

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Nimrod crash in Afghanistan
Summary
Date September 2, 2006
Type On board fire following re-fuel
Site Chalaghor in the Panjwaye District of Kandahar, Afghanistan
Crew 14
Fatalities 14
Survivors 0
Aircraft type Nimrod MR2
Operator Royal Air Force
Tail number XV230

Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230 was the first Nimrod to enter operational service with the RAF. It was delivered to the Operational Conversion Unit at RAF St Mawgan on 2 October 1969.[1] According to Jane's Information Group, XV230 was one of six Nimrods equipped with an L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical turret in 2003. In June/July of 2006 XV230 was given the capability to transmit real-time video imagery from the MX-15 to ground stations and commanders. This was implemented under Project Broadsword.[2]

During a reconnaissance flight it crashed in Afghanistan on September 2, 2006 , killing 14 military personnel in Britain's worst single loss since the Falklands War.

Contents

[edit] Crash details

The aircraft is believed to have suffered a leak during midair refuelling while it was monitoring a NATO offensive against Taliban insurgents west of Kandahar. The fuel appears to have leaked into the bomb bay where it caught fire, either as the result of an electrical fault or hot air leaking from a heating pipe.

The pilot reported a fire in his bomb-bay. He tried to reach Kandahar air base, taking the aircraft down from 23,000 ft to 3,000 ft in 90 seconds. An RAF Harrier aircraft followed the Nimrod down and saw a wing explode, followed a few seconds later by the rest of the aircraft.[3]

The crash site was about 25 miles WNW of Kandahar Airfield (which is located 16 kilometers south-east of the city of Kandahar) between two villages called Chil Khor and Fatehullah Qala in the Panjwaye District.[4] Witnesses included local men Abdul Manan and Haji Eisamuddin.[5]

Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and a British Army soldier aboard the Nimrod MR2, XV230 were killed.

The 12 RAF crew were all from No. 120 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland:

  • Flight Lieutenant Allan James Squires
  • Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson
  • Flight Lieutenant Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore
  • Flight Lieutenant Gareth Rodney Nicholas
  • Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick
  • Flight Sergeant Gary Wayne Andrews
  • Flight Sergeant Stephen Beattie
  • Flight Sergeant Gerard Martin Bell
  • Flight Sergeant Adrian Davies
  • Sergeant Benjamin James Knight YouTube Tribute Memorial Website
  • Sergeant John Joseph Langton
  • Sergeant Gary Paul Quilliam.

The soldier and marine on board were serving with the Special Reconnaissance Regiment [6]

A board of inquiry will be released in December 2007.[7]

On May 23, 2008 the assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire, Andrew Walker, handed down a narrative ruling that it had "never been airworthy from the first time it was released to the service nearly 40 years ago".

"It seems to me that this is a case where I would be failing in my duty if I didn't report action to the relevant authority that would prevent future fatalities,"

"I have given the matter considerable thought and I see no alternative but to report to the secretary of state that the Nimrod fleet should not fly until the Alarp [as low as reasonably practicable] standards are met."[8]

[edit] Controversy

There have been concerns in the British media about serviceability of the Nimrod fleet[9] and bereaved families are having to wait for years for the Oxfordshire coroner's office to hold inquests into military deaths.[10] Conservative MP, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger called for its replacement - the MRA4 - to be introduced quicker.[11] The replacement aircraft has suffered significant problems during the development and construction which has resulted in lengthy programme delays and the in-service date slipping 6 years from 2003 to 2009.[12] [13]

Concerns were again raised when on Monday 5 November 2007, Nimrod XV235 was reported to have suffered a similar fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely. The MoD have since suspended all in-flight refuelling of the Nimrod fleet.

The Scottish National Party's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson has criticised delays in inquiries. He said the wait for the Ministry of Defence inquiry and a coroner's inquest was a "disgrace" that dates have still to be set for the publication of the board of inquiry's findings and a coroner's inquest into the deaths. He was also quoted as saying Everybody's thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives. They are having to wait far too long to receive answers to many questions. A 12-month wait is a disgrace - Publication dates have been put back and put back and the Ministry of Defence should get on with it."[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ RAF Kinloss - Nimrod - Through The Years
  2. ^ Crashed RAF Nimrod identified - Jane's Defence Business News
  3. ^ Michael Smith. "Blast fears as Nimrod planes leak fuel on spy missions", The Times, June 17, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-17. 
  4. ^ Michael Smith. "Biggest military loss since start of Afghan war is 'terrible accident'", The Times, September 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-09-03. 
  5. ^ "RAF base remembers airmen", The Sun, September 4, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-09-04. 
  6. ^ Chris Hughes. "Crashed Nimrod had just refuelled", Dailymirror.co.uk, Mirror Media Group, 2006-05-09. 
  7. ^ PR Newswire : Release of Nimrod XY230 board of inquiry (BOI)
  8. ^ The Guardian : Nimrod inquest coroner declares whole fleet 'never airworthy'
  9. ^ MoD accused of cost-cutting on crash plane - Times Online
  10. ^ Attacks on 'appalling' wait for inquests - Telegraph
  11. ^ Dan Sales (July 31, 2007). Air hero's dad and MP call for Nimrod replacements. Retrieved on August 26, 2007.
  12. ^ BAe Nimrod MRA4
  13. ^ Hansard (House of Commons Daily Debates) (July 23, 2007). Nimrod Aircraft. Retrieved on September 1, 2007.
  14. ^ John Ross (1 September 2007). Nimrod inquiry delays under fire. Retrieved on September 2007, 2007.

[edit] External links