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Nimrod families take legal action | Nimrod families take legal action |
(30 minutes later) | |
The families of some of the 14 servicemen killed when their RAF Nimrod plane exploded in Afghanistan in 2006 are to sue the Ministry of Defence. | The families of some of the 14 servicemen killed when their RAF Nimrod plane exploded in Afghanistan in 2006 are to sue the Ministry of Defence. |
BBC Scotland has learnt that legal action is being taken by relatives of some of the men. | BBC Scotland has learnt that legal action is being taken by relatives of some of the men. |
Earlier this year a coroner ruled that the Nimrod fleet, based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, had never been airworthy and should be grounded. | Earlier this year a coroner ruled that the Nimrod fleet, based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, had never been airworthy and should be grounded. |
Ministers have insisted the planes are safe to fly. | Ministers have insisted the planes are safe to fly. |
Demands for legal action have been led by Graham Knight, whose son Ben was among those killed when the aircraft crashed in Afghanistan two years ago. | Demands for legal action have been led by Graham Knight, whose son Ben was among those killed when the aircraft crashed in Afghanistan two years ago. |
The crash was blamed on a fuel leak following mid-air refuelling. | The crash was blamed on a fuel leak following mid-air refuelling. |
But the aircraft are still flying and continue to operate in Afghanistan where the military sees them as crucial to the fight against the Taliban. | But the aircraft are still flying and continue to operate in Afghanistan where the military sees them as crucial to the fight against the Taliban. |
The legal action will claim that the men's human rights were breached when they were sent into a theatre of war ill-equipped. | |
Mr Knight told BBC Scotland: "Fourteen men died on that plane and apart from apologies nothing has really been done about it and although the planes have been deemed un-airworthy, they're still flying. | Mr Knight told BBC Scotland: "Fourteen men died on that plane and apart from apologies nothing has really been done about it and although the planes have been deemed un-airworthy, they're still flying. |
He added: "Had it been a bus company and it had been an un-roadworthy bus, legal action would have been taken against the bus company. I feel that something needs to be done as nobody has been brought to task." | He added: "Had it been a bus company and it had been an un-roadworthy bus, legal action would have been taken against the bus company. I feel that something needs to be done as nobody has been brought to task." |
Ministers insist the planes are safe now that mid-air refuelling is suspended and other changes have been made since the men died. | Ministers insist the planes are safe now that mid-air refuelling is suspended and other changes have been made since the men died. |