RAF Lyneham servicemen released for burial (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

RAF Lyneham servicemen released for burial

AN inquest into the deaths of Tetbury serviceman Richard Brown and his colleagues in a plane crash in Iraq has been opened.

And, at this stage, the MoD is still not ruling out the possibility that the aircraft was shot down.

Chief technician Brown, aged 40, was killed with nine fellow servicemen when the RAF Hercules transporter they were travelling in crashed north of Baghdad on January 30.

Eight of the deceased, including father-of-one Mr Brown, were based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

An RAF Board of Inquiry has been convened and the team is currently in the process of considering its findings.

But, although the inquiry has ruled out incidents such a bird strike, lighting strike, mid-air collision or cargo explosion, as being the cause, the MoD says it won't know the real reason until the investigation is complete.

An MoD spokesman said: "The board of inquiry continues to work to determine the cause of this tragic event. Until this has been competed it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the crash.

"Naturally, we will continue to give the families all the support we can at this difficult time."

The inquest, which was opened in Trowbridge yesterday, was adjourned until after the inquiry, and the bodies of the deceased were finally released for burial.

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters said: "I very much regret that it has not been possible to open this inquest until now and release the bodies to the families. This has been because the process of identification has been, of necessity, long and complex.

"I will do my level best to conclude this inquest as soon as I possibly can. This is a huge tragedy and I know the impact it has had on all the families and on life at RAF Lyneham."