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Military inquiries
This page has a database of defence and military inquiries and reports, as well as resources and information about organisations working in this area. Click on an inquiry to go to its detailed page. Please get in touch if there is a report or inquiry you would like to see added or if you find something which needs to be corrected.
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Military Inquiries and reports
You can filter by type of report and theme of inquiry. Click apply to search and reset to start again.
The investigations found will be displayed and each has a link to this site's page for the inquiry it comes from, and a page direct to the government link if available.
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Accident involving Tornado ZD743 and Tornado ZD812 over Moray Firth
Themes
Air, Defence
The collision was caused by a "lack of recognition of converging flight paths" while both aircraft were operating in uncontrolled airspace, exacerbated by the absence of a collision warning system and limitations in the "see and avoid" principle.
Issues
Accident involving the Falcons display team on 22 June 2014
Themes
Air, Defence
A member of the RAF Falcons display team suffered a catastrophic canopy collapse and a high-velocity impact with the ground following a "mid-air entanglement" during a high-profile display at the Weston-super-Mare Air Festival.
Issues
Accident involving Lynx Mk 9 ZF540 on 26 April 2014
Themes
Air, Defence
The inquiry concluded that the helicopter crashed due to Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) during a low-level training sortie, resulting from a loss of situational awareness and "procedural drift" within the operating detachment.
Issues
Accident involving Hawk TMk1 XX177 at RAF Scampton
Themes
Air, Defence
Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham was fatally injured when his ejection seat inadvertently fired while his aircraft was stationary on the ground at RAF Scampton, caused by a combination of an incorrectly inserted safety pin and a mechanical failure that prevented his parachute from deploying.
Issues
Accident involving Unmanned Air System (UAS) Hermes 450, ZK515 on 2 October 2011
Themes
Air, Defence
The loss of the Hermes 450 was caused by a catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation, which was exacerbated by the crew’s loss of situational awareness and poor emergency management within the complex airspace of Bastion Airfield.
Issues
Accident involving F-35B ZM152 on HMS Queen Elizabeth on 17 November 2021
Themes
Air, Defence
The inquiry determined that a plastic engine intake cover ("blank") was accidentally left in place, causing a sudden loss of thrust that forced the pilot to eject as the £82m stealth jet rolled off the carrier’s ramp into the Mediterranean.
Issues
Aviation fuel contamination at Mount Pleasant Complex
Themes
Defence
The inquiry found that a catastrophic logistics error led to runway de-icer (ICA) being accidentally pumped into the aviation fuel supply instead of fuel icing inhibitor (FSII), resulting in the grounding of the Falklands' entire air fleet.
Issues
Alleged exposure of UK Defence Personnel to asbestos during overseas exercises and training since 2018
Themes
Defence, Safety
The inquiry addresses systemic failures in the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) "duty of care" after personnel were exposed to asbestos while training in derelict buildings at overseas locations, most notably at the BATUS facility in Canada and sites in Germany.
Issues
Accident involving a Griffin MK1 ZJ241 at Yr Aran, Snowdonia, Wales
Themes
Air, Defence
The aircraft was destroyed by an uncontrolled fire following an emergency landing on a mountain peak after a structural failure of the main rotor gearbox support case was triggered by an attempt to land on an unsuitable slope.
Issues
Accident involving a Puma HC MK 2 (XW229) in Kabul, Afghanistan
Themes
Air, Defence
The aircraft crashed at the NATO Resolute Support Mission headquarters in Kabul after its main rotor blades struck a tethered persistent surveillance balloon (PTDS) during a landing approach, leading to a catastrophic loss of control.
Issues
Tribunal of Inquiry into the loss of H.M. Submarine Thetis
Themes
Defence, Safety, Water
The Tribunal of Inquiry into the Loss of H.M. Submarine Thetis investigated the tragic sinking of the submarine during diving trials in 1939, resulting in recommendations to improve submarine safety and prevent future disasters.
Issues
The Detainee Inquiry (The Gibson Inquiry)
Themes
Defence, Custody, Police
The Detainee Inquiry was a high-level investigation into British complicity in the post-9/11 rendition and torture programme that was curtailed by ongoing police investigations, resulting in a "preparatory report" that highlighted dozens of serious, unresolved allegations.
Issues
Butler review
Themes
Defence, CBRN
The Butler Review concluded that the intelligence used to justify the Iraq War was "seriously flawed" and that the government’s dossier had stretched available evidence to its "outer limits," though it cleared ministers of "deliberate distortion."
Issues
Monitoring, Training
Sierra Leone Arms Investigation (Legg inquiry)
Themes
Politics, Defence, Legal
The Legg Inquiry investigated whether British officials or ministers secretly approved a shipment of arms by Sandline International to Sierra Leone in breach of a UN embargo, ultimately finding that while some officials were aware of the plans, there was no ministerial conspiracy.
Issues
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