22/03/2003 |
XV650 |
L-183 |
Sea
King AEW7 |
849
NAS |
While
operating in the Arabian
Gulf off Kuwait one Sea King had taken off after refuelling from HMS
Ark Royal. It headed towards
the coast in the early morning darkness. Five miles from the ship it
collided with the other Sea King which was en-route back to the ship. Both
aircraft exploded killing the six British and one American on board. Both
aircraft were being used to support Royal Marines who were moving into
Iraq's Fao Peninsula to secure oil fields |
22/03/2003 |
XV704 |
L-186 |
Sea
King AEW7 |
849
NAS |
23/03/2003 |
ZG710 |
D |
Tornado
GR4 |
13
Sqn |
The
aircraft was on approach to land back at its base at Ali Al Salem,
northern Kuwait after returning from a successful combat mission to bomb
Baghdad, Iraq. A US Patriot missile was fired at it from within the base
as it was thought to be an incoming
missile. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew killed.
Inadequate training of the US missile crew and poor communication were
blamed |
18/04/2003 |
ZH658 |
106 |
Harrier
T10 |
20(R)
Sqn |
Force
landed after suffering engine failure on take off from Wittering,
Cambridgeshire and caught fire. It was not repaired and in June 2005 went
to St. Athan for removal of the rear fuselage. The rest of the airframe is
used for ground instructional at Cottesmore |
01/06/2003 |
XF516 |
G-BVVC
19 |
Hunter
F6A |
Private |
Plunged
into the Dyfi Estuary near Aberdovey, mid Wales after the pilot had
ejected while retuning to Exeter from Northern Ireland. The aircraft's two
electrical generators failed which resulted in the engine flaming out.
Unable to re-start the engine, the pilot attempted to glide to Llanbedr
Airfield. He realised that the aircraft would not make the airfield so he
turned the aircraft towards the nearest shoreline and ejected. He was
rescued from the water after 30 minutes by a Sea King helicopter and was
taken to hospital in Aberystwyth having suffered two broken vertebrae |
11/06/2003 |
ZH805 |
|
Sea
Harrier F/A2 |
FAA |
Ditched
into the sea a mile from Lee Bay, Ilfracombe, Devon during a test flight
from St. Athan. The pilot ejected safely and was rescued by a Sea King
scrambled from Chivenor |
12/07/2003 |
WB271 |
R-204 |
Firefly
AS5 |
RN
Historic Flt |
Crashed
into a wheat field on the eastern side of the M11 motorway after rolling
inverted and failing to recover during an air display at Duxford,
Cambridgeshire. Both crew were killed |
23/07/2003 |
XX183 |
|
Hawk
T1 |
208(R)
Sqn |
The
pilot ejected after a suspected bird strike during a routine training
flight from Linton-on-Ouse after an overnight detachment from Valley. The
aircraft crashed onto a disused railway line at Dawson Wood between
Pickering and Sinnington, North Yorkshire. It caught fire and was
destroyed. The pilot was taken to Scarborough hospital by a Sea King
helicopter having suffered minor leg and back injuries |
08/09/2003 |
XH168 |
|
Canberra
PR9 |
39(1PRU)
Sqn |
Damaged
in a landing accident at Marham, Norfolk. Repairs were not completed and
it was spares recovered during February 2005. The airframe was then put up
for disposal |
09/10/2003 |
ZA608 |
|
Tornado
GR4 |
15(R)
Sqn |
Suffered a bird strike
which resulted in extensive damage to the right hand engine and intake. Made
an emergency landing back at Lossiemouth, Morayshire after a bird strike.
The aircraft was dispatched to St. Athan on 28th November 2003 for repair
having suffered CAT 3 damage. Repairs were not completed and in May 2009
it was dispatched to Shawbury for storage |
11/2003 |
XZ309 |
C |
Gazelle
AH1 |
6
Flt |
During
routine maintenance at Middle Wallop, Hampshire it was found to have a
cracked frame. Repairs were deemed to be not cost effective and it was
withdrawn from use. Sold to Air & Ground at Hixon, scrapped by 2010 |
22/12/2003 |
ZB676 |
C |
Gazelle
AH1 |
665
Sqn |
Crashed
near Londonderry, Northern Ireland killing
both crew on board. The aircraft was hovering at about 800 feet when it
was seen by eyewitnesses to drop nose down and spiral into the ground,
crashing on Londonderry Rugby Club ground. After a lengthy investigation
the board of inquiry were not able to establish the cause of the crash and
returned a finding of ‘Not Positively Determined’ |