AN OXFORD coroner will today begin hearing evidence into the biggest single tragedy for Britain's Armed Forces since the war on terror began – the deaths of 14 servicemen who were killed when an ageing Nimrod spy plane exploded in the skies over Afghanistan.
Twelve crewmen from the RAF Kinloss air base in Moray were killed on 2 September, 2006, along with a Royal Marine and a soldier from the Parachute Regiment, when the aircraft crashed, shortly after refuelling in mid-air.
The coroner's inquest is
expected to hear claims that the Ministry of Defence ignored repeated warnings from RAF pilots and ground crew that the planes were unsafe to fly.
And a harrowing recording of the final moments of the crew of the doomed Nimrod XV230 is also expected to be played at the hearing.
Angus Robertson, the SNP MP for Moray who has campaigned on behalf of the bereaved families since the tragedy, said: "The start of the inquest tomorrow is long overdue. However, I know that despite the further pain that the process of the inquest will undoubtedly cause the friends and family of the brave personnel who lost their lives in September 2006, this process will also answer many questions.
"Many questions have been asked of the Ministry of Defence and many remain unanswered.
"I sincerely hope that the coroner will be able to uncover the root causes of the loss of Nimrod XV 230 in Afghanistan 20 months ago."
The inquest is expected to last up to three weeks.
The full article contains 263 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
