§ 76. Mr. Arbuthnotasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement about the recent accident over Sandwich and Deal in which United States aircraft were involved and which endangered civilian lives; and, in particular, what steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence.
Mr. WardI regret to say that both pilots were killed when two F.84 Thunderjet aircraft collided in mid-air near Deal on 6th February. There were no civilian casualties. I understand that the U.S.A.F. authorities have not been able to establish the cause of the accident. I can assure the House that the U.S.A.F. authorities co-operate very closely with the Royal Air Force to ensure that all flying is done with the greatest possible safety.