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| Two killed in RAF Tornado crash | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two RAF air crew have been killed after a Tornado jet crashed during a training flight in Argyll. | |
| The plane came down on a hillside near the Rest and Be Thankful beauty spot in Glen Kinglass, near Arrochar, at about 1145 BST. | The plane came down on a hillside near the Rest and Be Thankful beauty spot in Glen Kinglass, near Arrochar, at about 1145 BST. |
| The Ministry of Defence said that the Tornado F3 was based at RAF Leuchars in Fife and that next of kin had been informed. | |
| No civilians are thought to have been hurt in the crash. | |
| The Ministry of Defence said the aircraft had crashed during a routine training flight in Glen Kinglass. | The Ministry of Defence said the aircraft had crashed during a routine training flight in Glen Kinglass. |
| "The circumstances are being investigated and no further information is available at this time," it said. | "The circumstances are being investigated and no further information is available at this time," it said. |
| RAF Squadron leader Paul Lipscombe spoke to the BBC near the crash scene. | RAF Squadron leader Paul Lipscombe spoke to the BBC near the crash scene. |
| Campers at the Ardgarten caravan site said they saw two planes flying low | Campers at the Ardgarten caravan site said they saw two planes flying low |
| "We are very much in the early stages of securing the area and recovering the situation," he said. | "We are very much in the early stages of securing the area and recovering the situation," he said. |
| "I can confirm that it was a two aircraft mission and the other aircraft returned safely to RAF Leuchers." | "I can confirm that it was a two aircraft mission and the other aircraft returned safely to RAF Leuchers." |
| An ambulance spokeswoman said two crews were at the scene. | An ambulance spokeswoman said two crews were at the scene. |
| A specialist operations team was also being sent. | A specialist operations team was also being sent. |
| A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that police were called at 11.45am to a report of a plane crash near the Rest and Be Thankful, Arrochar. | A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that police were called at 11.45am to a report of a plane crash near the Rest and Be Thankful, Arrochar. |
| "Police are arriving at the scene." | "Police are arriving at the scene." |
| Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said its officers were also assisting in the operation after reoprts that a Tornado had crashed into the hillside near the A83 at Cairndow. | Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said its officers were also assisting in the operation after reoprts that a Tornado had crashed into the hillside near the A83 at Cairndow. |
| PREVIOUS TORNADO CRASHES October 2006 - Two airmen eject safely as a Tornado from RAF Marham in Norfolk crashes into the WashOctober 2005 - A crew from Leuchars eject from their Tornado F3 moments before it plunges into the North Sea off the coast St AndrewsFebruary 2005 - Two Tornado pilots walk away from a 165mph crash landing at RAF LossiemouthDecember 2003 - Tornado F3 crash lands at RAF Leuchars after the undercarriage fails to lowerDecember 2003 - Tornado F3 crash lands at RAF Leuchars after the undercarriage fails to lowerNovember 1999 - A Tornado F3 crashes into the North Sea close to Torness nuclear power station in East Lothian | PREVIOUS TORNADO CRASHES October 2006 - Two airmen eject safely as a Tornado from RAF Marham in Norfolk crashes into the WashOctober 2005 - A crew from Leuchars eject from their Tornado F3 moments before it plunges into the North Sea off the coast St AndrewsFebruary 2005 - Two Tornado pilots walk away from a 165mph crash landing at RAF LossiemouthDecember 2003 - Tornado F3 crash lands at RAF Leuchars after the undercarriage fails to lowerDecember 2003 - Tornado F3 crash lands at RAF Leuchars after the undercarriage fails to lowerNovember 1999 - A Tornado F3 crashes into the North Sea close to Torness nuclear power station in East Lothian |
| "Five fire appliances, two major incident units with heavy rescue equipment and a technical support unit to deal with any potential hazardous materials and to minimise any environmental impact were mobilised as a result. | "Five fire appliances, two major incident units with heavy rescue equipment and a technical support unit to deal with any potential hazardous materials and to minimise any environmental impact were mobilised as a result. |
| "Strathclyde Fire and Rescue personnel are working alongside personnel from the RAF, the police and ambulance services to deal with this incident and to locate the occupants of the aircraft." | "Strathclyde Fire and Rescue personnel are working alongside personnel from the RAF, the police and ambulance services to deal with this incident and to locate the occupants of the aircraft." |
| Morag Campbell, from Arrochar, was with her partner when two jets passed over the village just before lunchtime. | Morag Campbell, from Arrochar, was with her partner when two jets passed over the village just before lunchtime. |
| "They were very, very low just above the tree line," she said. | "They were very, very low just above the tree line," she said. |
| "There was a terrible noise after they flew up the Rest and be Thankful and we both said at the time that it sounded like one of them had crashed. | "There was a terrible noise after they flew up the Rest and be Thankful and we both said at the time that it sounded like one of them had crashed. |
| "We couldn't believe it when we suddenly saw all the emergency services speeding through our village. | "We couldn't believe it when we suddenly saw all the emergency services speeding through our village. |
| "I must say though that it was the lowest that I had seen jets travel through this area." | "I must say though that it was the lowest that I had seen jets travel through this area." |
| Sue Oliver, who works at Forest Holidays Campsite at Ardgarten, just past Arrochar, told the BBC the crash happened just before midday. | Sue Oliver, who works at Forest Holidays Campsite at Ardgarten, just past Arrochar, told the BBC the crash happened just before midday. |
| The Tornado F3 was based at RAF Leuchars in Fife | The Tornado F3 was based at RAF Leuchars in Fife |
| She heard two planes flying overhead between 1130 and 1200 BST. | She heard two planes flying overhead between 1130 and 1200 BST. |
| Ms Oliver said a short time later someone came in to the site and told her there had been a crash. | Ms Oliver said a short time later someone came in to the site and told her there had been a crash. |
| Frances Bremner from Cairndow, a village to the west of Arrochar, described how she heard jets overhead. | Frances Bremner from Cairndow, a village to the west of Arrochar, described how she heard jets overhead. |
| "From about 11am this morning we at Loch Fyne Oysters have listened to these jets flying over and over again," she said. | "From about 11am this morning we at Loch Fyne Oysters have listened to these jets flying over and over again," she said. |
| "My daughter at home saw two jets go over the back of our hill at Cairndow. One was very high but the second very low and she said she hoped it would make it over the hill as it was so low. | "My daughter at home saw two jets go over the back of our hill at Cairndow. One was very high but the second very low and she said she hoped it would make it over the hill as it was so low. |
| "This area is known to have these jets fly over and they do seem to fly very low but you assume they know what they are doing and how risky it is. I hope the crew had time to get out." | "This area is known to have these jets fly over and they do seem to fly very low but you assume they know what they are doing and how risky it is. I hope the crew had time to get out." |
| Training exercises | Training exercises |
| The weather in the area at the time of the crash was said to be overcast with thick clouds. | The weather in the area at the time of the crash was said to be overcast with thick clouds. |
| Andy Graham, 60, a retired rigger who moved to Arrochar three years ago, said he saw two Tornados flying low in the area around lunchtime. | Andy Graham, 60, a retired rigger who moved to Arrochar three years ago, said he saw two Tornados flying low in the area around lunchtime. |
| He said: "We get jets flying over here on training exercises quite regularly. It's not unusual to see them and you definitely hear them. | He said: "We get jets flying over here on training exercises quite regularly. It's not unusual to see them and you definitely hear them. |
| "But today they seemed to be flying much lower than normal. We watched them fly along the loch, up through the glen and towards the Rest And Be Thankful." | "But today they seemed to be flying much lower than normal. We watched them fly along the loch, up through the glen and towards the Rest And Be Thankful." |
| The Rest and Be Thankful is a tourist spot on the A83 Arrochar to Inveraray Road, north west of Loch Lomond. | The Rest and Be Thankful is a tourist spot on the A83 Arrochar to Inveraray Road, north west of Loch Lomond. |
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