Two Rescued After 2 RAF Tornados Crash in Moray Firth

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Tornado GR4s, which have a pilot and navigator, were from RAF Lossiemouth, on the Moray coast.

RAF Lossiemouth, the coastguard and RNLI have been alerted to the incident.

The MoD said one of the aircraft had been seen in the water and the other was classed as "missing".

Buckie, Invergordon and Wick lifeboats have been launched and an RAF helicopter has been involved in the search, which started at about 14:00.

The RNLI said the two people rescued have been flown to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

An MoD spokesman said: "The RAF are aware of an incident involving two Tornado GR4 aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth in the Moray Firth.

"The incident is being investigated and more information will be provided when available."

In January 2011, an uncontrollable engine fire caused a Tornado GR4 to crash into the sea off north west Scotland.

The aircraft - based at RAF Lossiemouth - suffered a problem in its right engine while on a training mission.

The pilot and navigator in that incident managed to eject to safety and were treated in hospital in Inverness.

An RAF board of inquiry investigation said the crew had acted calmly and professionally.

The following month, a Tornado crew was forced to eject after experiencing problems landing at RAF Lossiemouth.

The RAF confirmed the two crewmen ejected safely during the incident.

The pilot and navigator were taken to hospital, but were not thought to have been seriously injured.

Developed in the 1960s and 1970s, the Tornado GR4 has seen almost 40 years of service with the RAF.

The aircraft were flown in action during operations in Libya last year.

The jet has undergone several upgrades.


Source: 01 July 2012 - Press agency News

Photo: The RAF Tornados Crash in Moray

(7/1/2012)