Iraq helicopter crash was 'accident'

A crash between two Royal Navy helicopters at the beginning of the Iraq war was an accident, a coroner has ruled.

Seven men were killed when the two Sea King helicopters crashed into each other on March 22, 2003.

One of the helicopters was returning to HMS Ark Royal, while the other was leaving the ship when the accident happened.

Those who were killed were: Lieutenant Philip Green, 30, from Caythorpe, Lincolnshire; Lt Anthony King, 35, from Helston, Cornwall; Lt Marc Lawrence, 26, from Westgate-on-Sea, Kent; Lt Philip West, 32, from Budock Water, Cornwall; Lt James Williams, 28, from Falmouth, Cornwall; and Lt Andrew Wilson, 36, from Exeter, Devon - all from 849 Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose near Helston, Cornwall - and Lt Thomas Mullen Adams, of the US Navy, who was also stationed at RNAS Culdrose.

On Monday, Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Sir Richard Curtis recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Sir Richard apologised for the delay in the verdict and said that he hoped it would never happen again. He said: "I express that hope in your names, because it is quite, quite unacceptable."

During the inquest, several Royal Navy personnel had stated that the crash had been avoidable and that both craft had been flying according to standard procedures.

One air traffic controller said that both pilots had confirmed that they had seen each other before the crash.

Alan Massey, who had been Captain of the Ark Royal at the time of the accident and is now a Rear Admiral, told the inquest: "All I know is that the aircraft flew into each other. We can't for the life of us fathom what it was."

(KMcA)