Just getting reports in of 2 RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft have crashed into the sea North of Inverness about 14:00 this afternoon. No news on the crews, fingers crossed they all got out in one piece :(
Like you Lawrence hope the crews are ok.
One aircraft can be seen in the water the other is "missing", I assume it has broken up considerably. One bit of good news they have got 2 guys out of the water and on the way to hospital, nothing on the other crew yet :(
Hopefully all have survived.
Seems a little odd for 2 to crash, though ???
Quote from: newportnobby on July 03, 2012, 04:07:06 PM
Hopefully all have survived.
Seems a little odd for 2 to crash, though ???
not if they were dog fighting or flying formation, at 500+mph it all goes wrong very quickly.....
Two rescued according to bbc teletext.
Here's hoping he other are ok too.
Kirky
at least plenty of resources up there for search, I assume Lossie still has Seakings, Buckie has the RNLI severn class, and when I was up there a few years ago also had a Smit vessel based there for training with the Seakings.
also, plenty of fishing boats so hopefully the missing two will be picked up very soon.
The SAR Helo has just returned to Stornaway presumably for fuel and a crew change
If interested you can follow it on http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/ (http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/) it is SAR 111232501 (pale blue on the map)
Returning to Stornaway suggests to me they have found nothing as they would have taken any "finds" back to Inverness. I am getting a bad feeling about this one :(
A very sad incident....
2 recovered with no word on condition and 2 currently still missing.
I suspect the mood in Lossie mess is very sombre indeed at the moment awaiting further news.
Per Ardua chaps...from a Herc mate.
STU from EGDL :thumbsdown:
Thoughts also for those lost in the C130 MAFFS crash in S Dakota on the 1st July.
My family is from lossiemouth my dad served there when it was hms fulmar, never a good vibe when there's a lost plane, thoughts go out to the families of those brave guys,
Quote from: StufromEGDL on July 03, 2012, 09:10:11 PM
A very sad incident....
2 recovered with no word on condition and 2 currently still missing.
I suspect the mood in Lossie mess is very sombre indeed at the moment awaiting further news.
Per Ardua chaps...from a Herc mate.
STU from EGDL :thumbsdown:
Rumour (and that is all it is currently) but one of the guys never made it to the hospital :(
Currently SAR still on the deck at Stornoway, weather is DS on the East Coast
They have been in for 7 hours + now only positive is I know the guys will be busting a gut up there to complete the rescue
Thoughts and Prayers go out to all concerned, I know what it feels like as I lost a Son in 1987 when they put a submarine into a dive and left him and his mate up top, neither of them were found.
according to the BBC news
The search for two missing crew stopped for the night at 10:45 BST due to bad weather, and will resume on Wednesday.
no statement on condition of the two airlifted to Inverness.
Wishing well to all those involved in the search and the families of the airmen.
Just checked Lawrence's link, and no sign of any activity in the search area, although I assume that 202's seakings would not appear on there.
what did strike me, both last night when I checked, and this morning, is the total lack of commercial shipping in the area.
I may be getting old, but I remember when something like this would result in any ship in the area heading at full speed to assist.
I guess these days there is no profit in that, though no doubt when they are in trouble they will expect the RAF and Coastguard to risk their lives to go to their aid.
a sad comment on todays values.
hopefully someone will get out there soon, if the guys are there, and I'm sure we all hope they are, then they must feel lost in a huge sea, just waiting for the big yellow chopper to come for them.
fingers crossed.
The BBC morning news was suggesting that the crews might not have been wearing full survival kit. Don't know why that would be the case.
Really worrying.
Let's hope they guys are found and brought safely home.
Quote from: daveg on July 04, 2012, 08:03:24 AM
The BBC morning news was suggesting that the crews might not have been wearing full survival kit. Don't know why that would be the case.
Really worrying.
Let's hope they guys are found and brought safely home.
In the summer they don't wear the full length "bunny suits" under their flying suits (they are thick thermal full length suits for winter use) they will still be wearing full immersion suits though.
Quote from: class37025 on July 04, 2012, 08:00:52 AM
what did strike me, both last night when I checked, and this morning, is the total lack of commercial shipping in the area.
I may be getting old, but I remember when something like this would result in any ship in the area heading at full speed to assist.
I guess these days there is no profit in that, though no doubt when they are in trouble they will expect the RAF and Coastguard to risk their lives to go to their aid.
on a clear day from lossie you get a good veiw all the way across the moray firth and there's never that much shipping traffic out there, the odd bit headed down to inverness and sometimes taking shelter from storms out in the north sea, and for small scale commercial last time i was up in lossie there was only 3-4 boats left of any size and equipment to be of help,
sad thing is that the only thing keeping the helicopter rescue service there from the RAF is the need to recover their own pilots should the RAF pull out of the area then civilian cover will have to take over, this incident has shown just why they maintain their own SAR,,,,
it's saddening that i logged into bbc news not to find good news this morning,,,,,,,
Very sad news confirmed now, 3 dead, 4th serious but stable in hospital. Bloody sad day for the Royal Air Force and the families :( :(
Terrible news - my thoughts go out to all relatives and friends of the deceased :( :(
My sentiments exactly, very sad news. I haven't seen the TV, so does anyone know what happened?
Quote from: Malc on July 04, 2012, 02:41:27 PM
My sentiments exactly, very sad news. I haven't seen the TV, so does anyone know what happened?
A very sad outcome.
It's possible there may have been a collision during close combat practice. As mentioned earlier, when you're moving at such high speeds, things happen in fractions of a second.
Quote from: Malc on July 04, 2012, 02:41:27 PM
My sentiments exactly, very sad news. I haven't seen the TV, so does anyone know what happened?
A board of enquiry has been convened but it will be some months until we get any answers, the black boxes (which are actually orange) will provide some data as will the surviving member. Don't know how deep it is 25 miles off Wick but it will be a real tough task recovering the aircraft.
Quote from: daveg on July 04, 2012, 02:48:19 PM
Quote from: Malc on July 04, 2012, 02:41:27 PM
My sentiments exactly, very sad news. I haven't seen the TV, so does anyone know what happened?
A very sad outcome.
It's possible there may have been a collision during close combat practice. As mentioned earlier, when you're moving at such high speeds, things happen in fractions of a second.
Speaking to some of the pilots here, there are dozens of reasons why this tragic accident might have occurred, we will have to await the findings
Ive said nothing in this thread so far but my thoughts and prayer go out now (and have been sinse it started) to the families, friends and those who have to take any active part in the actions still to be performed over this incedent.
To the dead crew members I hope they are at peace and didnt suffer to much
My deepest condolencies go out the the crew & their families.
I still remember the shock and loss felt by all of us when we lost a Shack and it's crew from Ballykelly in the late 60s.
thoughts for all affected, family, friends and comrades.
at least they will receive plenty of support from their service family.
Quote from: class37025 on July 04, 2012, 08:10:49 PM
I still remember the shock and loss felt by all of us when we lost a Shack and it's crew from Ballykelly in the late 60s.
thoughts for all affected, family, friends and comrades.
at least they will receive plenty of support from their service family.
Now that
is going back a bit :D
Typical of the media though, now calling into question the airworthiness of the Tornado, muppets >:(
Names not published yet of the sad loss of the 3 Tonka guys.
Nevertheless, they will probably be familiar names and I will raise a glass to them tonight.
Per Ardua ad Astra, fellas!!!
STU from EGDL
Names now available on the BBC :(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18720128 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18720128)
Quote from: Lawrence on July 05, 2012, 01:12:39 PM
Names now available on the BBC :(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18720128 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18720128)
BBC state "the names of the three airmen who died after 2 Tornados crashed have been released"
Then they say one died in hospital and the other 2
are feared deadThis type of reporting is disgusting and the BBC should be heavily censured IMO >:( >:( :thumbsdown:
You are assuming its the BBC who got it wrong, whereas the output from the military may have been confused.
Quote from: EtchedPixels on July 05, 2012, 03:32:22 PM
You are assuming its the BBC who got it wrong, whereas the output from the military may have been confused.
Alan, the station Commander quite clearly stated yesterday that "The operation will be resumed as a recovery operation as soon as possible, but we must be realistic. Given the length of time that has elapsed since the accident, there is no expectation of recovering missing personnel alive."
Seems straight forward to me ;)
Terrible news regarding the loss of life. My thoughts go out to all their friends and families.