Wed, Mar 23, 2005
Investigation Into January 30th Mishap Continues
The crew of a Royal Air Force C-130 that went down January 30th,
killing all ten on board, sent a distress signal before the mishap,
according to a British investigator. That was eight minutes after
the aircraft took off from Baghdad Airport -- and it was followed
only by silence.
Wiltshire coroner David Masters said controllers made several
attempts to raise the crew on the radio, but heard nothing back.
Search teams were dispatched and, within an hour, they were able to
locate the wreckage.
As ANN reported at the time, it was the
single-worst loss of life suffered by British military forces since
the invasion of Iraq two years ago.
Killed in the mishap, according to the BBC, were:
- Flt Lt David Stead, 35
- Flt Lt Andrew Smith, 25
- Flt Lt Paul Pardoel, 35
- Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42
- Chief Technician Richard Brown, 40
- Flt Sgt Mark Gibson, 34
- Sgt Robert O'Connor, 38
- Sqn Ldr Patrick Marshall, 39
- and Cpl David Williams, 37
The coroner's inquest got underway Tuesday in Trowbridge
Magistrates' Court, near the victims' base, RAF Lyneham. No
official cause has yet been established. Earlier media reports
suggested a bomb had been planted on board the aircraft, but the
RAF quickly ruled that out.
As ANN reported earlier this month, the Iraqi
rebel group Ansar al-Islam distributed a videotape its members said
showed the aircraft being shot down. British
investigators have not yet ruled out the possibility that the
aircraft was indeed downed by a missile, but wonder at what
altitude the aircraft was flying before it issued its distress
call.
More News
Aero Linx: Space Medicine Association (SMA) The Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific>[...]
Jamming Denotes emissions that do not mimic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals (e.g., GPS and WAAS), but rather interfere with the civil receiver's ability to acquir>[...]
Aero Linx: Warbirds of America The EAA Warbirds of America, a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a family of owners, pilots and enthusiasts>[...]
"From New York to Paris, this life-size replica of the Webb Telescope inspired communities around the world and, in doing so, invited friends and families to explore the cosmos tog>[...]
Hold-In-Lieu Of Procedure Turn A hold-in-lieu of procedure turn shall be established over a final or intermediate fix when an approach can be made from a properly aligned holding p>[...]