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Inquiry into Afghan crash begins Afghan force 'has right support'
(about 2 hours later)
An investigation has begun to find out why an RAF plane crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing 14 UK forces personnel on board. Defence Secretary Des Browne has denied that UK troops in Afghanistan are under-resourced after an RAF Nimrod MR2 crashed near Kandahar.
The Nimrod MR2 reconnaissance aircraft came down near the city of Kandahar. The government had not underestimated the dangers involved, he told the BBC.
It is believed a technical fault was to blame for the loss of the plane, which came from RAF Kinloss in Moray. The plane crashed on Saturday, killing 14 UK troops including 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, in north-east Scotland.
Defence Secretary Des Browne paid tribute to those who had died and dismissed claims by the Taleban that militia had shot down the plane. An inquiry has begun to find out why the reconnaissance aircraft came down. A technical fault has been blamed.
A Royal Marine and an Army solider were also killed.
Mr Browne told BBC One's Sunday AM programme there was no correlation between the incident and claims there is a lack of resources for British troops.
"Those who have been following developments in Afghanistan will know that we deployed a significant force in the first place to do a very specific job there.
Dangers understood
"We recognised that the job would bring certain dangers and risks and we supported our troops with, for example, a deployment of attack helicopters."
He also rejected criticisms that his predecessor John Reid had misjudged the dangers faced by British troops.
PREVIOUS NIMROD LOSSES 17 November 1980: Bird strike at Roseisle Forest, near Kinloss, Scotland3 June 1984: Fire on board at St Mawgan, Cornwall16 May 1995: Engine fire at Lossiemouth, Scotland2 September 1995: Crash at Toronto Air Show, Canada
"The nature of the troops and the configuration of those troops we've put onto the ground in Afghanistan and the support that we've gave them - I think very clear evidence that we understood the danger of this."
Patrick Mercer, the Conservative spokesman on homeland security, said British forces in Afghanistan needed to be better equipped.
"You've got to be prepared for a bloody engagement with doughty fighters like the Taleban.
"Now if we're going to do that we've got to have the kit, the equipment, the troops, the firepower that we need to do this as effectively as we can."
Group Captain Chris Birks, station commander at RAF Kinloss, insisted all safety procedures had been followed and the aircraft had not been overworked.
"As a military establishment, as a military unit, we will always fly as required for operations.
"We have limits set that we do not exceed, and that certainly has been the case in the operations that we are flying in the Middle East and at home at the moment."
Tributes
Mr Browne paid tribute to those who had died and dismissed claims by the Taleban that militia had shot down the plane.
He said: "The Taleban regularly make claims which we know to be untrue and I think in this case, this is instructive of the nature of their dishonesty."He said: "The Taleban regularly make claims which we know to be untrue and I think in this case, this is instructive of the nature of their dishonesty."
He called the crash "dreadful, shocking news", saying that the priority was to help the families of those who had died.He called the crash "dreadful, shocking news", saying that the priority was to help the families of those who had died.
It was not enemy fire that brought the plane down, it was equipment malfunction Dr Alexandra Ashbourne Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2 Send us your reactionIt was not enemy fire that brought the plane down, it was equipment malfunction Dr Alexandra Ashbourne Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2 Send us your reaction
Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier were on board the plane. The next of kin have been informed of the tragedy. The next of kin are being informed of the tragedy.
Mr Browne added: "In Afghanistan, we have secured the site and the investigation has begun. Mr Browne added: "In Afghanistan, we have secured the site and the investigation has begun."
"I can confirm that the indications both before the crash and since suggest that this has been a dreadful, tragic accident."
Patrick Mercer, the Conservative spokesman on Homeland Security, said British forces in Afghanistan needed to be better equipped if the campaign was to be successful.
Major Luke Knittig, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), said the aircraft, which had been acting in a support role to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban, had made an emergency call shortly before it disappeared.Major Luke Knittig, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), said the aircraft, which had been acting in a support role to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban, had made an emergency call shortly before it disappeared.
Coalition helicopters were reportedly seen flying to the scene of the crash, about 20 km (12 miles) west of the city of Kandahar.Coalition helicopters were reportedly seen flying to the scene of the crash, about 20 km (12 miles) west of the city of Kandahar.
Crash implications probed MPs and experts respondCrash implications probed MPs and experts respond
Defence analyst Dr Alexandra Ashbourne said the investigation into why the plane went down would focus on a number of areas. Aviation journalist Jim Ferguson said the reconnaissance planes had been operating in the country for some time.
"It was not enemy fire that brought the plane down, it was equipment malfunction," she said.
"It is normally a very safe plane but something catastrophic has clearly happened."
Aviation journalist, Jim Ferguson, said the reconnaissance planes had been operating in and around the country for some time.
"It is used a lot for search and rescue and it may well be doing other interesting tasks out in Afghanistan.""It is used a lot for search and rescue and it may well be doing other interesting tasks out in Afghanistan."
The pilot is believed to have radioed ground staff about a technical fault shortly before the aircraft came down.
The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001.The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001.
PREVIOUS NIMROD LOSSES 17 November 1980: Bird strike at Roseisle Forest, near Kinloss, Scotland3 June 1984: Fire on board at St Mawgan, Cornwall16 May 1995: Engine fire at Lossiemouth, Scotland2 September 1995: Crash at Toronto Air Show, Canada
Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001, with much of the fighting concentrated in the south.Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001, with much of the fighting concentrated in the south.
There are 5,500 British troops in the country, helping to train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction and provide security.There are 5,500 British troops in the country, helping to train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction and provide security.
Over past few months Nato troops have been involved in deepening counter-insurgency operations, BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said.
He added that the plane is said to have been flying a surveillance mission to support a Nato operation in the town of Panjwayi, a town regularly threatened by the Taleban.
"As operations intensify in the south, Nato has given itself six months to show that the Afghan government is on the winning side," our correspondent added.
  • A special MoD helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives.
  • A special MoD helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives.