HC Deb 05 April 1995 vol 257 cc1144-5W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 March,Official Report, column 397, how many RAF personnel or civilians were killed or injured as a result of the Tornado crashes. [17806]

Mr. Soames

A total of 17 RAF personnel and two civilians were killed in the Tornado crashes referred to.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 March,Official Report, column 397, what reasons have been established for each of the Tornado crashes. [17804]

Mr. Soames

Summaries of the RAF boards of inquiry into all but four of the crashes referred to in the question can be found in the Library of the House. Boards of inquiry into the remaining four are still under way and copies of the summary of their findings will be placed in the Library in due course.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 March,Offical Report, column 397, what was the replacement cost of the 27 Tornado aircraft lost since 1981. [17805]

Mr. Soames

Of the 27 Tornado aircraft which crashed over the UK land area or at sea in UK waters, four have been repaired. No replacement costs arise for the remaining 23 aircraft since there is an attrition reserve from which aircraft are taken to replace those lost. Records are not maintained centrally of other costs which may arise from an accident, such as aircraft salvage or third party claims.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 March,Offical Report, column 397, if any of the 17 Tornados which crashed on land did so in built up-area. [17807]

Mr. Soames

No.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF Tornado aircraft have crashed since 1983 outside United Kingdom land and United Kingdom-controlled sea(a) in military operations, (b) as a result of pilot error and (c) due to mechanical or similar failure. [17848]

Mr. Soames

The information requested is as follows:

  1. (a) six Tornados crashed during combat sorties during the Gulf conflict.

Completed RAF boards of inquiry concluded that:

  1. (b) six Tornados have crashed as a result of aircrew error;
  2. (c) three Tornados have crashed as a result of mechanical or similar failure.

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