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Tornado RAF crew search to resume | Tornado RAF crew search to resume |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The search for two British air crew, missing after two RAF Tornado jets crashed in the Moray Firth, is set to resume. | The search for two British air crew, missing after two RAF Tornado jets crashed in the Moray Firth, is set to resume. |
The Ministry of Defence said the search was suspended on Tuesday evening and will restart "when the weather clears". | The Ministry of Defence said the search was suspended on Tuesday evening and will restart "when the weather clears". |
The Tornado GR4s, which each have a crew of two, were from RAF Lossiemouth, in the north east of Scotland. | |
Two of the four air crew were airlifted to hospital in Inverness but there are no details about their condition. | Two of the four air crew were airlifted to hospital in Inverness but there are no details about their condition. |
The Ministry of Defence said it was making an assessment on when it can resume its search. Visibility is said to be poor in the area. | |
Police and the Coastguard have been patrolling shorelines and urged the public to contact them immediately if they spot any debris. | |
Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted to the incident at about 13:50 BST on Tuesday, after reports that the jets came down about 25 miles south of Wick. | Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted to the incident at about 13:50 BST on Tuesday, after reports that the jets came down about 25 miles south of Wick. |
The RNLI said 15 volunteers manned the Wick, Invergordon and Buckie lifeboats, which were used to search for the missing personnel. | The RNLI said 15 volunteers manned the Wick, Invergordon and Buckie lifeboats, which were used to search for the missing personnel. |
The boats headed for the Beatrice oil field area, supported by a helicopter from Stornoway in the Western Isles. | The boats headed for the Beatrice oil field area, supported by a helicopter from Stornoway in the Western Isles. |
Wreckage from one of the aircraft was collected from the water and transported back to shore on lifeboat Buckie - the location of the second aircraft is not yet known. | Wreckage from one of the aircraft was collected from the water and transported back to shore on lifeboat Buckie - the location of the second aircraft is not yet known. |
Lossiemouth station commander Gp Capt Ian Gale said: "The circumstances remain uncertain, but clearly this is a very serious incident. | Lossiemouth station commander Gp Capt Ian Gale said: "The circumstances remain uncertain, but clearly this is a very serious incident. |
"The thoughts from everyone here are with the families and friends of those involved." | "The thoughts from everyone here are with the families and friends of those involved." |
There have been previous accidents involving RAF Tornado aircraft. | There have been previous accidents involving RAF Tornado aircraft. |
In January 2011, an engine fire caused a Tornado GR4 based at RAF Lossiemouth to crash into the sea off north west Scotland - the crew in that incident managed to eject to safety. | In January 2011, an engine fire caused a Tornado GR4 based at RAF Lossiemouth to crash into the sea off north west Scotland - the crew in that incident managed to eject to safety. |
The following month, a Tornado crew was forced to eject after experiencing problems landing at the same base - there were not thought to have been serious injuries. | The following month, a Tornado crew was forced to eject after experiencing problems landing at the same base - there were not thought to have been serious injuries. |
The supersonic Tornado GR4 attack aircraft has seen decades of RAF service, being used in various military operations that include in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan and most recently Libya. | The supersonic Tornado GR4 attack aircraft has seen decades of RAF service, being used in various military operations that include in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan and most recently Libya. |