Tornado crash kills Leuchars RAF pair

Two RAF air crew died after their low-flying jet crashed and exploded into flames during a training mission at a remote Scottish beauty spot.

The aircraft was one of two RAF Leuchars-based Tornado F3s on a routine flight through Glen Kinglas, Argyll, when it disappeared at 11.45am yesterday. Witnesses said the planes appeared to have been flying much lower than usual before the jet plunged into the Rest and Be Thankful hill face, near the village of Arrochar, which was masked by thick cloud at the time. A stalker on the hills said visibility was poor due to heavy rain and mist.

A major search was launched for the pilot and weapons systems operator on board as, initially, it was unclear if they had ejected. Later the MoD confirmed they were dead.

An MoD spokesman said: “It is with deep regret that the MoD must confirm the deaths of two RAF air crew from 43 Squadron, RAF Leuchars.

“At the moment our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and colleagues of the two air crew who lost their lives today.”

The A83 Tarbet to Campbeltown road was closed between Inveraray and Arrochar.

Local traffic was permitted on the Dunoon road end at the bottom of the Rest and Be Thankful. Speaking from the scene, Squadron Leader Paul Lipscomb confirmed that the training exercise had involved two aircraft and the other plane had returned safely to Leuchars.

He said the clear-up operation would take days, and specialist equipment was on its way. He was unable to confirm if the weather was a factor. He said there were no weapons on the aircraft.

Sergeant Tim Sugars, from the RAF mountain rescue team, said the jet crashed at speed, throwing burning wreckage over a vast area.

The plane crashed halfway up the hill and firefighters had to be airlifted to the scene to extinguish the burning wreckage. Police said no civilians were injured at the crash scene on the A83 Arrochar to Inveraray road, north-west of Loch Lomond.

Morag Campbell, from Arrochar, said she was with her partner when two jets passed over the village just before lunchtime. She said: “They were very, very low just above the tree line. There was a terrible noise after they flew up the Rest and Be Thankful and we both said at the time that it sounded like one of them had crashed.

Anne and Martin Bell, of Highbank Park, Lochgilphead, were in Arrochar at the time of the crash.

They were taking their grandchildren, Liam, 10, and nine-year-old Rhys Scott to Glasgow and had stopped in the village.

Mrs Bell said: “The planes flew past us, it must have been two minutes before they hit the hill. They were pretty low and loud when they passed us. Next minute police and the fire engine came flying past on the road. We met about eight police cars and two fire engines, plus the big incident vehicles.

“It is terrible. It would have taken them two minutes to get from Arrochar to where they crashed. We could have easily been on that part of the road when they crashed.”

Jason Ferguson, a stalker on Ardkinglas Estate, was on the high top of Troisgeich, a nearby hill. He said: “It was really heavy mist. I couldn’t see but heard a plane coming by, then I heard another one. I came down and I heard another two at about 1,200ft, they were going at about 500mph.”

Andy Graham, 60, a retired rigger, of Arrochar, said he saw the Tornados flying low around lunchtime. He said: “We get jets flying over here on training exercises quite regularly. But today they seemed to be flying much lower than normal.”

Search and rescue helicopters from the HMS Gannett naval base and RAF Lossiemouth were immediately drafted in to search for the wreckage and the crew. Air accident investigators and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue were also on the scene.

The MoD said an inquiry will be held by the RAF.

RAF Leuchars is in the North East Fife constituency of Liberal Democrat MP Sir Menzies Campbell. He said: “This tragic accident is yet another reminder of the risks our service men and women have to face every day.

“The professionalism of the Royal Air Force is only assured by their constant training and preparation for combat.

“The sympathy of the whole north-east Fife community will be with the family and friends of the crew of this aircraft.”

The F3 has been involved in a number of crashes in recent years, including in 2005 when another crew from Leuchars ejected before it plunged into the North Sea off St Andrews.