Pilots eject as RAF Tornado crashes into sea
24th October 2006
The Tornado is considered to be the RAF's primary attack aircraft
An RAF Tornado on a routine weapon training session crashed into the sea off the UK today but both air crew ejected to safety. The Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham crashed at 11.17am in the RAF's Holbeach Range, a bombing range in the south of The Wash in Lincolnshire.
The pilot and the navigator were rescued by Sea King helicopters from RAF Wattisham and Leconfield and taken to a hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Ambulance Service officials said the two crew members - both thought to be men - were suffering from spinal injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening.
In the aftermath of the crash, their parachutes were seen descending near the scene. Attempts are being made to retrieve the wreckage from the sea. There was no live ordnance on board and the crew were using practice bombs.
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said: "Just after 11am we were alerted to a distress beacon which was going off in The Wash area and very quickly established that a Tornado GR4 bomber - one of Britain's frontline bombers - had gone in, and a rescue operation was mounted.
"We were lucky that the Royal Marines happened to have a helicopter in the area so they were able to establish where they were. The two rescue helicopters then took the casualties, who were in dinghies, to hospital.
"They are being assessed at the moment and the standard procedure in these cases is to see whether or not there has been stress on the spine. If there is any indication that there was, they will be taken to a specialist spinal injuries unit." Mr Mulford said it had been "very much a routine practice day".
"There will be a board of inquiry, which is being formed as we speak," he said. "It will consist of four to five people with expertise and they will work through all the possibilities."
Asked if there was any indication how the crash happened, he added: "Not a clue."
Holbeach Range is used as a bombing range by Tornados, Harriers and Jaguar aircraft. Practice bombs weighing as much as 2,000lbs are dropped on a variety of targets on the range.
The Tornado GR4 is considered the RAF's primary attack aircraft, flying at low level and supersonic speeds.
The two-engined aircraft is 16.7 metres (55ft) long with a 13.9 metre wingspan and can fly at top speeds of 1,452mph at 36,000ft and 710mph at sea level. RAF Marham in Norfolk operates four squadrons of Tornado GR4 and each aircraft carries a pilot and a navigator.
It is not the first time a Tornado has crashed. On May 17 2002, a Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham crashed into the River Humber, east Yorkshire. Both crew ejected to safety.
dailymail.co.uk
24th October 2006
The Tornado is considered to be the RAF's primary attack aircraftAn RAF Tornado on a routine weapon training session crashed into the sea off the UK today but both air crew ejected to safety. The Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham crashed at 11.17am in the RAF's Holbeach Range, a bombing range in the south of The Wash in Lincolnshire.
The pilot and the navigator were rescued by Sea King helicopters from RAF Wattisham and Leconfield and taken to a hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Ambulance Service officials said the two crew members - both thought to be men - were suffering from spinal injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening.
In the aftermath of the crash, their parachutes were seen descending near the scene. Attempts are being made to retrieve the wreckage from the sea. There was no live ordnance on board and the crew were using practice bombs.
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said: "Just after 11am we were alerted to a distress beacon which was going off in The Wash area and very quickly established that a Tornado GR4 bomber - one of Britain's frontline bombers - had gone in, and a rescue operation was mounted.
"We were lucky that the Royal Marines happened to have a helicopter in the area so they were able to establish where they were. The two rescue helicopters then took the casualties, who were in dinghies, to hospital.
"They are being assessed at the moment and the standard procedure in these cases is to see whether or not there has been stress on the spine. If there is any indication that there was, they will be taken to a specialist spinal injuries unit." Mr Mulford said it had been "very much a routine practice day".
"There will be a board of inquiry, which is being formed as we speak," he said. "It will consist of four to five people with expertise and they will work through all the possibilities."
Asked if there was any indication how the crash happened, he added: "Not a clue."
Holbeach Range is used as a bombing range by Tornados, Harriers and Jaguar aircraft. Practice bombs weighing as much as 2,000lbs are dropped on a variety of targets on the range.
The Tornado GR4 is considered the RAF's primary attack aircraft, flying at low level and supersonic speeds.
The two-engined aircraft is 16.7 metres (55ft) long with a 13.9 metre wingspan and can fly at top speeds of 1,452mph at 36,000ft and 710mph at sea level. RAF Marham in Norfolk operates four squadrons of Tornado GR4 and each aircraft carries a pilot and a navigator.
It is not the first time a Tornado has crashed. On May 17 2002, a Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham crashed into the River Humber, east Yorkshire. Both crew ejected to safety.
dailymail.co.uk