§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent loss of a Merlin production helicopter. [143331]
§ Mr. SpellarOn the morning of 27 October, a Royal Naval Merlin helicopter was forced to ditch in the sea off the cost of Scotland. None of the crew sustained any serious injuries. A formal accident investigation is under way and a Royal Navy Board of Inquiry has been convened to look at the broader implications of the accident. Sufficient evidence exists to confirm that the cause of the accident was limited to the crashed aircraft. Preparatory work to enable a phased return to flying is in progress and Royal Naval Merlin helicopters may be expected to resume limited flying this week.