§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the collision of two RAF fighters in Northumberland on Tuesday 9 January.
§ Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the two RAF aircraft involved in the mid-air collision over the Hexham constituency on Tuesday 9 January were both engaged on low-flying exercises; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the mid-air collision between the RAF jets over the Hexham constituency on Tuesday 9 January.
§ Mr. NeubertOn Tuesday 9 January 1990 an RAF Tornado and an RAF Jaguar aircraft engaged on routine low-flying training missions were involved in a mid-air collision over Northumberland. The Tornado aircraft crashed about five miles east of Hexham and some wreckage fell on the A68 and A69. There were no civilian casualties. The Jaguar remained airborne and was able to land at RAF Leeming. The crew of the Tornado sustained major injuires and are in hospital in Newcastle. The pilot of the Jaguar was uninjured.
A board of inquiry has been convened in the normal way and a summary of its findings will be published in due course. It would be inappropriate to speculate about the causes of the accident until the inquiry is complete.