An MP has called for a fatal accident inquiry following an RAF crash in Moray which left three airmen dead in 2012.
Two RAF Tornado jets crashed over the Moray Firth in July 2012 resulting in the death of three crew members.
Fatal Accident Inquiry
Moray MP Angus Robertson has written to the Lord Advocate calling for a fatal accident inquiry after is was revealed that the aircraft did not have collision warning systems installed, a safety that was recommended and brought in to numerous RAF aircraft in 1990.
A Fatal Accident Inquiry attempts to establish the cause of death, the circumstances which led to death occurring and take the necessary steps to prevent any future incident occurring in the future.
Mr Robertson said: “I believe these developments further strengthen the case for a fatal accident inquiry and should be taken into consideration in the pending decision.
“The families and loved ones of those involved in the fatal collision in July 2012 must get answers and an FAI is the best way of putting to an end this sorry saga of delays and dither at the MoD.”
“Twenty years after ministers recommended that these systems would save lives they remain largely uninstalled.
“To make matters worse the MoD have revealed recently that a collision warning system for the Typhoon remains in the concept phase with absolutely no timetable for when or even what system will be put in it.
“The MoD’s cavalier approach to safety has now been well documented and the situation is totally unacceptable.”
Liability
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has admitted liability for the crash in Moray and have started to fit crash warning systems to all Tornado jets.
A Military Aviation Authority (MAA) report last year found 17 factors contributed to the deaths with inadequate safety measures being one of the main reasons for the collision.
The MoD stated that following the MAA report they have taken as many recommendations as possible on board in order to prevent another future accident, with safety measures being “reviewed as a matter of urgency, with substantive progress being made”
A Crown Office spokesman said: “The procurator fiscal has received a report in connection with the deaths of three men.
“The investigation into these deaths, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, is ongoing and the families will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.
It awaits to be seen if a fatal accident inquiry will be held into the incident with the matter now at the discretion of the Lord Advocate.
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