UK Ministry of Defence, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon Adam Ingram has today confirmed that the Board of Inquiry (BOI) into the loss of the Lynx Helicopter in Basra on 6 May 2006 has concluded the aircraft was shot down by hostile forces.
All five of the personnel on board the Lynx lost their lives in the crash: RAF Wing Commander John Coxen, Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman, Flight Lieutenant Sarah Mulvihill, Captain David Dobson and Marine Paul Collins.
Their families have been informed of the BOI’s conclusions.
In a Written Ministerial Statement made to Parliament on Friday 27 April 2007, The Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon Adam Ingram, said:
“I am announcing today the findings of a Board of Inquiry (BOI) into the tragic incident in Basra, Iraq on 6 May 2006 when a Lynx helicopter based at Basra Air Station crashed, killing all five of its occupants – Wg Cdr Coxen, Lt Cdr Chapman, Flt Lt Mulvihill, Capt Dobson and Mne Collins.
“I pay tribute to them, and to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, who continue to face hostile conditions on a daily basis. Our thoughts are with all their families and friends.
“I will arrange for copies of the Military Air Accident Summary and the Main Board of Inquiry, redacted in accordance with guidance on the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act, to be placed in the Library of the House.
“The key conclusion of the BOI is that the Lynx was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (using a Man Portable Air Defence System) fired from the ground.
“The Next of Kin have been informed of the Board’s conclusions and have been presented with copies of the relevant documentation.
“This information has also been provided to the Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner who is scheduled to hear the inquest into the deaths of these Service Personnel.
“The BOI made seven recommendations. Action has been taken to implement all of the Board’s recommendations, and those arising from the subsequent Technical Investigation, details of which I am not making public in order to protect the security and operational effectiveness of our Armed forces.”
A copy of the Main Board of Inquiry, redacted in accordance with guidance on the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act, will be available on the MOD website early next [this] week.
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