An RAF Tornado fighter-bomber has crashed whilst on exercise off North-West Scotland.
UK Coastguards said they were alerted to an incident involving the aircraft at Loch Ewe, near Gairloch, Wester Ross, at 2.45pm today.
The two man crew of the aircraft ejected safely and were rescued by a UK coastguard helicopter which airlifted them to airlifted Hospital in Inverness.
Ironically, a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) tug, the Anglian Earl, was also involved in the incident. (This is the second rescue incident involving MCA tugs which are due to be withdrawn as part of a cost cutting mesure by the UK government – the Celtic League has voiced its opposition).
The latest Tornado crash is one of a series of accidents (some fatal) involving the obsolete military aircraft.
Because of the propensity of the RAF to use Low flying areas in the Highlands a considerable number of such accidents have occurred in Scotland. The Tornado has one of the highest attrition rates of UK military aircraft.
The Celtic League is opposed to military low-flying over the Celtic countries and has vigorously articulated these concerns particularly in relation to the Highlands, SW Scotland and the mid-Wales Tactical Training Areas (TTAs)
Related link on Celtic News:
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
27/01/11
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.
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