Defence secretary flies in Nimrod

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Defence Secretary Des Browne has been on a flight in an RAF Nimrod aircraft while on a "private visit" to RAF Kinloss in Moray.

It came a month after a coroner ruled that the Nimrod fleet - which is based at Kinloss - has never been airworthy and should be grounded.

The MoD has confirmed that Mr Browne met crews on the base.

But it stressed that this was a private visit, like many others. The MOD has insisted the aircraft is safe.

The coroner's ruling followed a crash in Afghanistan two years ago, in which 14 servicemen were killed, after a fuel leak caused a mid-air-explosion.

The families of those killed have been seeking a meeting with ministers.

On Saturday, the MoD came under attack for allowing a Nimrod to fly over Buckingham Palace during a flypast to mark the Queen's official birthday.