HC Deb 21 December 1999 vol 341 cc469-70W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the near miss involving an RAF Tornado and a British Midland plane near Edinburgh Airport earlier in December. [103545]

Mr. Kilfoyle

Two aircraft proximity incidents (or airproxes) involving British Midland SAAB 340 aircraft and RAF Tornados were reported during the first week of December. One of these occurred in the Aberdeen area, the other, 12 nautical miles north east of St. Abb's Head. A further incident was reported by an Edinburgh air traffic controller and involved a Tornado and a British Airways Embraer aircraft. All these reports are being investigated through the United Kingdom Airprox Board who will publish their findings next year.