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| Fresh fears over Nimrod safety | Fresh fears over Nimrod safety |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| New concerns are being raised about the safety of the RAF's Nimrod spy planes, following an investigation by Panorama. | New concerns are being raised about the safety of the RAF's Nimrod spy planes, following an investigation by Panorama. |
| One of the aircraft crashed in Afghanistan last year, shortly after air-to-air refuelling. All 14 people on board were killed. | One of the aircraft crashed in Afghanistan last year, shortly after air-to-air refuelling. All 14 people on board were killed. |
| There have been two serious mid-air incidents since the crash, both after refuelling, the BBC programme found. | There have been two serious mid-air incidents since the crash, both after refuelling, the BBC programme found. |
| The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, has said he is confident mid-air refuelling is safe. | The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, has said he is confident mid-air refuelling is safe. |
| There is still no official cause for last September's crash, but shortly before the plane came down a fire broke out on board after it had refuelled in mid-air. | There is still no official cause for last September's crash, but shortly before the plane came down a fire broke out on board after it had refuelled in mid-air. |
| Panorama has uncovered two more events, in November and December of last year, both involving fuel leaks that happened after air-to-air refuelling. | Panorama has uncovered two more events, in November and December of last year, both involving fuel leaks that happened after air-to-air refuelling. |
| Integrity | Integrity |
| A former RAF engineer, Jimmy Jones, said he believed at least one of those leaks was so serious it could have brought the plane down. | A former RAF engineer, Jimmy Jones, said he believed at least one of those leaks was so serious it could have brought the plane down. |
| Sir Glenn confirmed there had been 25 fuel leaks on Nimrods in the five months up to March, but said he was satisfied air-to-air refuelling is safe. | Sir Glenn confirmed there had been 25 fuel leaks on Nimrods in the five months up to March, but said he was satisfied air-to-air refuelling is safe. |
| "We did suspend air-to-air refuelling for a period in November," he told Panorama. | |
| "We looked at what we were doing, both in terms of integrity of the system, the way we were actually conducting the air-to-air refuelling, and I'm satisfied that the way we're now doing is as safe as it needs to be." | "We looked at what we were doing, both in terms of integrity of the system, the way we were actually conducting the air-to-air refuelling, and I'm satisfied that the way we're now doing is as safe as it needs to be." |
| Gary Quilliam died in the crash | |
| But a member of a Nimrod crew, who has not been named, said there were more problems than ever before with the aircraft. | |
| "All sorts of equipment has failed, we've had problems with engines that we've had to shut down, fuel leaks are on the increase." | |
| The families and friends of the 14 British servicemen who died in last year's crash - 12 of whom were based at RAF Kinloss on the Moray coast - have also expressed concerns about the safety of the rest of the Nimrod fleet. | |
| Rayna Quilliam, whose husband Gary was killed, said it is important to know whether the deaths could have been avoided and if another catastrophe could be prevented. | |
| "Gary joined the Air Force to serve his country, he was probably one of the most patriotic people I know," she said. | |
| "He would have willingly put his life on the line for his country - to do his job - and that's what he did do. But, if this was a technical fault - he was not supposed to die as a result of a technical fault." | |
| The Armed Forces minister, Adam Ingram, said safety had never been compromised. | |
| The Nimrod was designed as a sea patrol and anti-submarine aircraft and entered service with the RAF 30 years ago. |