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| Nimrod families want safety talks | Nimrod families want safety talks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The families of 14 British servicemen killed in an RAF Nimrod crash in Afghanistan in 2006 have urged the armed forces minister to meet them. | |
| In a letter they have asked Bob Ainsworth to discuss with them the airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet. | In a letter they have asked Bob Ainsworth to discuss with them the airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet. |
| Following an inquest last month, a coroner called for the fleet to be grounded but the minister and defence secretary said it was airworthy. | Following an inquest last month, a coroner called for the fleet to be grounded but the minister and defence secretary said it was airworthy. |
| The inquest heard a design flaw led to the Nimrod exploding after a fuel leak. | The inquest heard a design flaw led to the Nimrod exploding after a fuel leak. |
| The explosion near Kandahar in September 2006 killed all 14 men on board. Twelve of those who died were from 120 Squadron, based at RAF Kinloss in Moray. The two other victims were attached to the squadron. | The explosion near Kandahar in September 2006 killed all 14 men on board. Twelve of those who died were from 120 Squadron, based at RAF Kinloss in Moray. The two other victims were attached to the squadron. |
| We were all very upset that you felt able to make an immediate comment about the airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet before you even had the chance to read the coroner's verdict Robert Dicketts | We were all very upset that you felt able to make an immediate comment about the airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet before you even had the chance to read the coroner's verdict Robert Dicketts |
| Robert Dicketts, father of L/Cpl Oliver Dicketts, 27 - who was killed in the explosion - has written to Mr Ainsworth on behalf of all the families of those killed. | Robert Dicketts, father of L/Cpl Oliver Dicketts, 27 - who was killed in the explosion - has written to Mr Ainsworth on behalf of all the families of those killed. |
| Following the inquest Mr Ainsworth and Defence Secretary Des Browne insisted the fleet was airworthy and safe and that all the issues raised by the crash were being dealt with. | Following the inquest Mr Ainsworth and Defence Secretary Des Browne insisted the fleet was airworthy and safe and that all the issues raised by the crash were being dealt with. |
| In his letter Mr Dicketts said the minister's experts must have "completely different information to that which we heard". | In his letter Mr Dicketts said the minister's experts must have "completely different information to that which we heard". |
| It said: "First of all we were all very upset that you felt able to make an immediate comment about the airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet before you even had the chance to read the coroner's verdict. | It said: "First of all we were all very upset that you felt able to make an immediate comment about the airworthiness of the Nimrod fleet before you even had the chance to read the coroner's verdict. |
| "Bearing in mind the seriousness of the matter we would have thought that you should have first read it, and then called in your experts to advise you before making any comments. | "Bearing in mind the seriousness of the matter we would have thought that you should have first read it, and then called in your experts to advise you before making any comments. |
| "It is clear to us that your experts have completely different information to that which we heard in the coroner's court. | "It is clear to us that your experts have completely different information to that which we heard in the coroner's court. |
| "In view of this we would ask that we have a meeting to both review your experts' evidence and that which we heard. | "In view of this we would ask that we have a meeting to both review your experts' evidence and that which we heard. |
| 'Not airworthy' | 'Not airworthy' |
| He said the minister would be aware several experts had "stated quite clearly" the fleet was still not airworthy. | He said the minister would be aware several experts had "stated quite clearly" the fleet was still not airworthy. |
| He added that in cases where the experts thought the plane was still airworthy they had, in some cases, had their evidence "discredited". | He added that in cases where the experts thought the plane was still airworthy they had, in some cases, had their evidence "discredited". |
| Speaking after the inquest coroner Andrew Walker said the fleet had "never been airworthy" as he recorded narrative verdicts. | Speaking after the inquest coroner Andrew Walker said the fleet had "never been airworthy" as he recorded narrative verdicts. |
| Des Browne reacted by saying changes made to the Nimrod meant it was now safe for crews. | Des Browne reacted by saying changes made to the Nimrod meant it was now safe for crews. |
| The 14 men killed were: | The 14 men killed were: |
| Flt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool. | Flt Lt Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Nottinghamshire, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth, Dorset, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge, Merseyside and Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool. |
| Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester. | Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Newport, Shropshire, and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgwater, Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29,from Liverpool and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester. |
| L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere. | L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, from Wadhurst and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall, 22, from Hazlemere. |