The Ministry of Defence came under fire last night after it emerged plans to fit a crash warning system on RAF Tornado aircraft have been on the table for 15 years.
A parliamentary question from Moray MP Angus Robertson last week revealed that military chiefs were drawing up plans to instal the technology four years before a fatal mid-air collision involving RAF Lossiemouth planes in July 2012. But yesterday a Freedom of Information response from the MoD and the Strategic Defence and Security Review said that the proposals were first recommended as far back as 1998.
The latest development comes as the procurator fiscal considers whether a fatal accident inquiry will be held into the 2012 crash, which claimed the lives of Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey and Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole.
A fourth man, who has not been named, survived the crash on July 3.
The results of the Military Aviation Authority’s inquiry into the crash have now been passed to the fiscal. Moray MP Angus Robertson said last night: “It is scandalous that the MoD committed to a Tornado collision avoidance system in the 1990s, but this was not installed in time to potentially avert the fatal 2012 crash and is still not in use.
“We don’t know whether such a system would definitely have stopped the collision above the Moray Firth in 2012 and saved lives, but this is certainly being considered in connection with a potential Fatal Accident Inquiry.
“I believe that the families of the victims deserve the fullest answers and the whole truth. The MoD has a lot of questions to answer about why they do not appear to put the safety of service personnel first.”
An MoD spokeswoman said last night: “There are already a range of mitigation measures in place to minimise the risk of mid-air collision and tragic incidents such as that in Moray are extremely rare. A specifically designed Tornado Collision Warning System, which will be another tool for pilots to use, is being trialled and will be in service next year. Our thoughts remain with the families of Sqn Ldr Sam Bailey, Flt Lt Hywel Poole and Flt Lt Adam Sanders.”
She said it would be inappropriate to comment further while the fiscal was considering the inquiry findings.