Military Aircraft Accidents

Irwin Mitchell Aviation Law has unrivalled expertise in military aircraft accidents and has handled claims for personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.  The aviation team has acted in major military disasters involving helicopters, fast jets and large military aircraft.  Notable recent cases include the Nimrod MR2 that exploded over Afghanistan in 2006 and the Puma HC Mk1 that crashed into the ground near Catterick Garrison in 2007.

Military Aircraft Accident Specialists

The nature of military aircraft operations means that the risks of accidents are higher than for civilian aviation.  The exceptional military flying training ensures that the risks are minimised, but when something goes wrong the consequences can be rapid and catastrophic.  Whether an aircraft is lost during conflict or training, the results are often devastating and the military personnel and families need (and deserve) assistance and advice from lawyers who understand the military community and aircraft operations from direct experience. The Irwin Mitchell team of Aviation law military specialists is lead by Andrew Buckham, a former Army Officer.

Our in-house military air accident expertise is used to analyse all circumstances and military issues surrounding the accident to determine the chain of events that led to the crash.  This expert knowledge is then used to advise victims and families in relation to their rights against the military via the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and/or a civil claim. 

A civil compensation claim can be very complicated so we will consider all options to achieve the best solution for families and victims. In addition to potential action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD), we will consider the options of pursuing civilian contractors or corporations that have contributed to an accident. 

For example, if a faulty component contributed to the crash, the manufacturer of the component could be pursued.  If the component was manufactured by a US corporation, this may be a sensible course of action as the levels of compensation in the US are often significantly higher than in the UK.  However, bringing a claim in the US can be difficult as US corporations are given a form of immunity for military products, known as the Government Contractor Defence.  There are situations where a claim can still be made despite this defence - Irwin Mitchell will advise you if this is possible in your case.

Our extensive experience in military claims means that the aviation team knows how to deal with the MoD, their claims handling insurers and solicitors and whether they have credible defences, such as combat immunity.  This combined with our overall experience in acting for the victims of aviation accidents and disasters around the world means that military families and personnel receive the highest level of service, from the immediate aftermath of the air crash to settlement or conclusion of the trial.

For more information, call 0800 056 4110 or contact us online.

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"They are all industry leaders whose experience is extremely high." – Chambers & Partners, 2020

"Irwin Mitchell is a top-rate firm for aviation compensation claims." – Chambers & Partners, 2019

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