HC Deb 23 July 1984 vol 64 cc542-3W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornado aircraft have crashed to date, indicating for each case whether the accident was as a result of pilot error or technical error; and in cases where the accident was as a result of technical error, if he will state the error concerned.

Mr. Lee

There have been 11 Tornado aircraft crashes to date of which 5 were RAF aircraft, 4 were operated by the Federal Republic of Germany or Italy and 2 were prototype aircraft. Details of the RAF crashes are as follows:

Date Site Cause
27 September 1983 Nr. Sandringham Still under investigation but preliminary results indicate total electrical failure
28 October 1983 North Sea Still under investigation but preliminary results indicate pilot incapacitation
6 February 1984 Nr Jever (West Germany) Still under investigation but preliminary results indicate that aircraft caught fire following lightning strike
12 July 1984 Lower Bodham Still under investigation
18 July 1984 Goose Bay (Canada) Still under investigation