§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force Tornados have been destroyed or seriously damaged in a flying accident since the Tornado entered Royal Air Force service; in which countries they occurred; how many were on low-flying exercises; how many lives have been lost; and what has been the cost of the Tornados involved.
§ Mr. FreemanSince entering service with the Royal Air Force, 17 major Tornado accidents have resulted in 15 aircraft being lost and a further three sustaining major damage. In these accidents, six aircrew were killed. Eleven of the accidents occurred in the United Kingdom or surrounding waters, four took place in the Federal Republic of Germany, and the remaining two were in Canada and the United States of America. Eleven of the aircraft were involved in low-flying operations when the accident occurred. In respect of the cost of the aircraft involved, it is now our practice not to publish unit production costs, but I refer the hon. Member to table 3.2 of volume 2 of the "Statement on Defence Estimates 1988" (Cm. 344–11).