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Tornado jet crash: MoD reviews search for missing crew | |
(40 minutes later) | |
An assessment is being made on whether to resume the search for two airmen missing in the Moray Firth after two RAF Tornado jets crashed. | |
Operations were suspended on Tuesday evening after the jets are understood to have collided. | |
The Tornado GR4s, which each have a crew of two, were from RAF Lossiemouth, in the north east of Scotland. | 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 was said to be poor in the area. | |
Police and the Coastguard have been patrolling shorelines and members of the public have been asked to report any debris. | |
Wreckage collected | |
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." |
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is clearly a very serious incident and my thoughts are with the loved ones of those affected. | |
"I understand rescue services have done all they can to help with the situation and offer my thanks to all 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. |