RAF planes’ wreckage located in Moray Firth

The wreckage of two RAF Tornados lost in a crash in the Moray Firth has been located, the Ministry of Defence said.

The remains of the two GR4 bombers, which crashed on Tuesday afternoon, are believed to be 40 metres to 60 metres (131ft-197ft) underwater 25 miles south of Wick, off Scotland’s east coast.

Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole, 28, died and Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey, 26, and Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, 27, are missing presumed dead after the crash which left a fourth crewman seriously injured in hospital.

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An MoD spokesman said: “We have identified where we believe the wreckage is.

“They are in 40m-60m depth of water so the operation to recover them is ongoing at the moment.

“There are maritime vessels which are assisting with the recovery along with a Royal Navy minesweeper.”

The men were serving with 15 (Reserve) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in north-east Scotland.

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Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced the dead men’s names and paid tribute to them in the House of Commons yesterday.

“My thoughts – and, I am sure, those of the entire House – are with their loved ones at this difficult time, and with the fourth member of the squadron involved in the incident, who is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital,” he told MPs.

The MoD was unable to confirm how long recovery of the aircraft might take.

HMS Cattistock is at the scene with ocean survey vessel Ocean Star. A crew member of the Ocean Star confirmed it had been carrying out sonar surveys of the seabed but declined to comment further.

The Tornado GR4 is a two-seat attack aircraft capable of delivering a variety of weapons and reaching a maximum altitude of 50,000ft (15,240m).

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