BBC: Two RAF Aircraft Crash in Moray Firth

[POL]

The RAF is co-ordinating a search and rescue after reports of two planes coming down in the Moray Firth.

RAF Lossiemouth, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and RNLI have been alerted to the incident.

The RAF has responsibility for co-ordinating the search and rescue.

No further details were available at this stage.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-h ... s-18692532" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[POL]

Now confirmed by the MoD.

[colevans]

2 Tornados...

[rtv]

Hope all involved got out and are safe.

[Flyingmonster]

Come on Gents lets get this thread back on topic please.

Heres hoping for good news.

[The Phantom]

Why is it that everytime there is an 'incident' involving the RAF, it always turns into a slanging match on the following thread on this forum?
Surely the important thing is the 4 crew.

[SteveS]

Quite. Thread tidied up.

[lowlevelRAF]

Not good, just glad they have found one of the crews, just hope the others are found too soon.

Matt

[3Greens]

BBC Radio Lincolnshire just reported that "2 crew had been recovered and confirmed aircraft were GR4 Tornados from RAF Lossiemouth"
Hopefully other two guys soon to be picked up too

[airtyphoon]

hopefully both crews will be found safe.

airtyphoon

[flarkey]

SAR Aircraft visible on http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?map=MorayFirth" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GOOSE]

Old link and posts, regarding an out of date incident, removed.

[rtv]

Back on topic then, Kinloss reporting less than 1 mile visibility on crash scene. Not the best news, but hopefully the FLIR will do what it does best.

I hope that's the only thing delaying the rescue of the two missing.

[GOOSE]

To keep everything in one place, here's the lastest BBC Scotland report -

Credit BBC Scotland -

Two people have been picked up by helicopter after two RAF Tornado jets crashed in the Moray Firth.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Tornado GR4s, which have a pilot and navigator, were from RAF Lossiemouth, on the Moray coast.

The RNLI said Buckie, Invergordon and Buckie lifeboats were searching for two missing crew south of Wick.

The MoD said one of the aircraft had been seen in the water and the other was classed as "missing".

Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted to the incident at about 13:50.

An RAF helicopter picked up two people and flew them to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

A search is taking place in the Moray Firth.

The three lifeboats have been searching an area 25 miles (40km) south of Wick, in the Beatrice oil field.

The field has an oil and gas platform and two experimental offshore wind turbines.

An MoD spokesman said: "The RAF are aware of an incident involving two Tornado GR4 aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth in the Moray Firth.

"The incident is being investigated and more information will be provided when available."

Non topical info removed.

[GOOSE]

MOD website remains unchanged -

The RAF is aware of an incident in the Moray Firth area involving two Tornado GR4 aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth.

We are investigating the incident, and further information will be provided when possible.

[Petepilot]

Best of luck to the rescue team, hopefully some good news soon re the other crew.

[thommg]

All hopes for a good outcome still - but very sadly this is the latest....

The Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth, Group Captain Ian Gale, has issued the following statement:

"It is with great regret that I must confirm the loss of two Tornado GR4 aircraft, from this station, in an incident in the Moray Firth today. The circumstances remain uncertain but clearly this is a very serious incident.

"This incident involved four aircrew - all personnel from this station - and the thoughts of everyone here are with the families and friends of those involved. As I'm sure you will understand, this is an evolving situation and, as such, I am not prepared to comment at this time on their condition or speculate on the circumstances surrounding this incident. However, I can confirm that two individuals have been recovered and two remain unaccounted for. Rescue operations are continuing and I would like to record my gratitude for the ongoing efforts of all those involved.

"I am confident that the Tornado aircraft on this station are operated as safely as they possibly can be - however, today's incident is a stark reminder that the military operations and training we conduct are not without risk. What happened today is under investigation and more details will be released by the Royal Air Force in due course. Until then, I would ask the media to respect that this is a difficult time for the family, friends and colleagues of those involved and for the whole of the RAF Lossiemouth community."

[nick197]

Fingers crossed for a good outcome

[SteveS]

The longer is goes on, the bleaker it's looking, as always. Fingers crossed.

[Dan213]

Lossie Station Commander has commented

It is with great regret that I must confirm the loss of two Tornado GR4 aircraft from this station in an incident in the Moray Firth today. The circumstances remain uncertain but clearly this is a very serious incident. This incident involved four aircrew - all personnel from this station - and the thoughts of everyone here are with the families and friend of those involved. As I'm sure you will understand, this is an evolving situation and, as such, I am not prepared to comment at this time on their condition or speculate on the circumstances surrounding this incident.

– GROUP CAPTAIN IAN GALE, STATION COMMANDER AT RAF LOSSIEMOUTH

Really do hope that the missing crew are found soon