Bid to lift wreckage of crashed RAF Tornadoes from seabed begins

Work to recover the wreckage of the two RAF Tornadoes that crashed in the Moray Firth has begun, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Three lives were lost in the incident while a fourth remains seriously ill in Inverness’ Raigmore Hospital.

Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole, 28, died in hospital while Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey, 26, and Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, 27, are missing presumed dead after last Tuesday’s crash. The identity of the surviving crew member has not been revealed.

The men were serving with 15 (Reserve) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.

An MoD spokesman said: “The salvage operation is under way with two vessels on the scene, a civilian ship Far Sapphire and HMS Cattistock.

“We hope the operation may be completed by the end of the week.”

The wreckage of the bombers is thought to be up to 200ft underwater, 25 miles south of Wick.

The Duke of York attended a memorial service for the men at RAF Lossiemouth.

Prince Andrew is an Honorary Air Commodore of the station and was joined at the service by the station commander, Group Captain Ian Gale.