RAF criticised over 'Top Gun' crash

Mon Oct 26 2009 18:39:06

A coroner has criticised the running of an RAF base following a helicopter crash which killed three men.

Coroner Geoff Fell said RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, where the crew of the £20 million Puma were based, "left much to be desired".

Flight Lieutenant David Sale, 28, Sergeant Phillip Burfoot, 27, and 17-year-old Private Sean Tait died in the crash near Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, in August 2007.

The flight was the final trip on a two-day training exercise which saw members of the crew laughing and joking during tasks.

At one point the Johnny Cash hit Ring Of Fire was played over the speakers and a former Army Captain shouted out the phrase "yeeha Jester's dead" - a quote from the Tom Cruise film Top Gun.

The coroner said the helicopter's pilot, Flt Lt Sale, may not have had the capability to carry out the risky manoeuvre which led to the crash. However, he went on to highlight a series of contributing factors, including poor administration at the base.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.