Nimrod Families Slam Government

The families of 14 servicemen killed when a Nimrod spy plane exploded in mid-air have condemned the Government's decision not to ground the fleet.

The coroner overseeing the inquest into the men's deaths had recommended that every aircraft in the fleet, based at RAF Kinloss, Scotland, be grounded immediately until they were made safe to fly.

Relatives of those who died had called for the Government to follow the recommendation "without delay", but reacted with fury to the news that Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth had refused to ground the planes.

Andy Knight, brother of Sergeant Ben Knight, said the announcement was "an insult to everyone in this room, an insult to all the families".

Mr Knight said that the families had not yet decided whether they would take any further action against the MoD. "I think we need some time to reflect on this before we take it any further," he said.

"The Ministry of Defence are a law unto themselves," said Richard Mitchelmore, father of Flt Lt Leigh Mitchelmore.

"We urge them once and for all to carry out the recommendation."

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