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MoD names killed British troops Plane crash troops named by MoD
(about 4 hours later)
The Ministry of Defence has named the 14 UK military personnel who died when their plane crashed in Afghanistan. The names of 14 UK military personnel killed when their RAF plane crashed in Afghanistan have been released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The RAF Nimrod MR2 crashed on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland, a Royal Marine and a soldier. The Nimrod MR2 came down on Saturday, killing 12 air personnel from 120 Squadron based at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland, a Royal Marine and a soldier.
Wing Commander Martin Cannard, of 120 Squadron, said the victims were "great guys" and it was a "profound loss". An inquiry is under way, with a technical fault so far being blamed.
An inquiry has begun to find out why the reconnaissance aircraft came down. A technical fault has been blamed. Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells rejected claims the UK's aircraft were worn out and more funds were needed.
Technical checks have been made on the fleet in Scotland and Afghanistan and Nimrod flights were expected to resume at Kinloss on Monday.
Mr Howells, who is visiting the Afghan capital Kabul, said: "I've not heard that at all from our commanders, our generals out here, they seem very satisfied with the equipment they've got.
"They'd always like more, of course, and we'd like to provide it for them, but remember, we're not alone out here. There are 36 other countries helping in this operation."
An RAF Kinloss station commander has insisted all safety procedures were followed.
'Professional guys''Professional guys'
The 12 RAF personnel were named on Sunday evening as: Flight Lt Steven Johnson, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies. As the Scottish base tried to come to terms with the tragedy, Wing Commander Martin Cannard, of 120 Squadron, said the victims were "great guys" and described their deaths as a "profound loss".
Nato troops in complex fight Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2
The 12 RAF personnel killed were: Flight Lt Steven Johnson, Flt Lt Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, Flt Lt Gareth Rodney Nicholas, Flt Lt Allan James Squires, Flt Lt Steven Swarbrick, Flt Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, Flt Sgt Stephen Beattie, Flt Sgt Gerard Martin Bell and Flt Sgt Adrian Davies.
Also named were Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, Sgt John Joseph Langton and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam.Also named were Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, Sgt John Joseph Langton and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam.
The soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine was named as Joseph David Windall.The soldier who died was Lance Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts from the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marine was named as Joseph David Windall.
The MoD said no further details would be released until Monday. Wing Cdr Cannard added: "They were hard-working, professional guys doing important jobs which they were committed to, which they enjoyed.
Tributes
Earlier, Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells, who is visiting the Afghan capital Kabul, dismissed claims the crash showed the UK's aircraft were old and more funds were needed to be committed to the operation.
"I've not heard that at all from our commanders, our generals out here, they seem very satisfied with the equipment they've got," he said.
He pointed out there are 36 other countries helping in the operation.
Nato troops in complex fight Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2 Send us your reaction
Wing Cdr Cannard, the commanding officer of 120 Squadron, said of the men who died: "They were hard-working, professional guys doing important jobs which they were committed to, which they enjoyed.
"They were good friends, their families were good friends to many of us.""They were good friends, their families were good friends to many of us."
As the flag at RAF Kinloss flew at half-mast, he added that the deaths at affected families ""all over the country". As the flag at RAF Kinloss flew at half-mast, he added that the deaths affected families "all over the country".
The plane which crashed had been supporting a major offensive, in which Nato said more than 200 Taleban have been killed. The plane had been supporting a major offensive, in which Nato said more than 200 Taleban have been killed.
Four soldiers with the Nato-led forces were killed and seven hurt in Operation Medusa, near the city of Kandahar.Four soldiers with the Nato-led forces were killed and seven hurt in Operation Medusa, near the city of Kandahar.
'Significant force''Significant force'
Defence Secretary Des Browne told BBC One's Sunday AM programme: said a "significant force" had been deployed to Afghanistan to "do a very specific job". Defence Secretary Des Browne told BBC One's Sunday AM programme a "significant force" had been deployed to Afghanistan to "do a very specific job".
"We recognised that the job would bring certain dangers and risks and we supported our troops with, for example, a deployment of attack helicopters.""We recognised that the job would bring certain dangers and risks and we supported our troops with, for example, a deployment of attack helicopters."
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 Send us your reaction
He said the Nimrod aircraft had a good safety record and was maintained to very high standards.He said the Nimrod aircraft had a good safety record and was maintained to very high standards.
Earlier he paid his respects to those who had died, and dismissed claims by the Taleban that militia had shot down the plane.
Roland Buerk, the BBC's correspondent in Afghanistan, said Nato reported the Nimrod was flying too high to be hit by the Taleban's stinger missiles.
Taleban fighters
Patrick Mercer, the Conservative spokesman on homeland security, said British forces in Afghanistan needed to be better equipped.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."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.""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."
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 Group Captain Chris Birks, station commander at RAF Kinloss, said all safety procedures had been followed and the aircraft had not been overworked.
Group Captain Chris Birks, station commander at RAF Kinloss, insisted all safety procedures had been followed and the aircraft which crashed had not been overworked. href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/5309100.stm" class="">Crash implications probed href="/1/hi/uk/5309206.stm" class="">MPs and experts respond
"We will always fly as required for operations."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.""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."
'First class'
He paid tribute to the dead men, describing them as "first class personnel".
Mr Browne also paid his respects to those who had died, and dismissed claims by the Taleban that militia had shot down the plane.
"In Afghanistan, we have secured the site and the investigation has begun."
Crash implications probed MPs and experts respond
Roland Buerk, the BBC's correspondent in Afghanistan, said Nato reported the Nimrod was flying too high to be hit by the Taleban's stinger missiles in the minutes before the crash.
Major Luke Knittig, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), said the aircraft had made an emergency call shortly before it disappeared.
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.
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.
  • 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.