Nimrod inquest resumes

An inquest has resumed into the deaths of 14 servicemen killed when a Nimrod spy plane exploded in Afghanistan after refuelling mid-air.

The incident occurred during a mission near Kandahar on September 2, 2006, when the 37-year-old reconnaissance aircraft, call sign XV230, exploded in a ball of flames at 3,000ft.

The inquest into their deaths began with a visit by the court, including the families of the victims, to RAF Brize Norton.

They have viewed a Nimrod plane like the one their loved ones flew in and see the engine partially stripped down.

The hearing, being presided over by Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker, will start in earnest on Wednesday.

The deaths were the heaviest loss of by UK forces in a single incident since the Falklands War. Ageing components and a lack of modern fire suppressants were among the "contributory factors", an RAF Board of Inquiry found.

The most probable cause of the crash was an escape of fuel during the air-to-air refuelling either as a result of an overflow or a leakage from the aircraft's fuel system, the BoI said.

The fuel flowed back into a dry bay near to the aircraft's No 7 tank, and ignited after coming into contact with an exposed hot air pipe. The crew had no means of attacking the principal fire and had no choice but to attempt an emergency descent to the Kandahar airbase.

The 12 RAF personnel killed were Flt 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, Sgt Benjamin James Knight, Sgt John Joseph Langton and Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam. L/Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, from the Parachute Regiment, and Royal Marine Joseph David Windall also died.

The families of the victims are attending the inquest, which is expected to last up to three weeks, at Oxford Coroners Court.

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