Insurgents' missile likely cause of Hercules crash

LONDON - A missile fired by insurgents from the ground probably destroyed an RAF Hercules C-130 cargo plane in Iraq with the loss of 10 British special operations servicemen, an interim report reveals.

The Ministry of Defence accident investigators' findings were outlined to MPs yesterday by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.

The findings raised fears within the ministry that the insurgents could possess a new missile capable of hitting aircraft flying at more than 4570m.

The board of inquiry ruled out the possibility that the Hercules, which was supplying a special operations base north of Baghdad, was blown up by a bomb on board or an explosion on board caused by an accident with bombs or ammunition.

The inquiry team will now have to determine whether the plane was brought down by a heat-seeking missile designed to reach aircraft at high altitude or was a lucky strike by insurgents using a SAM (surface-to-air) missile which normally has a range of less than 3000m.

Hoon said the inquiry team had ruled out a number of possibilities.

"These are bird strike, lightning strike, mid-air collision, controlled flight into the ground, wire-obstacle strike, restriction in the aircraft's flying controls, cargo explosion, engine fire, sabotage [including the use of an improvised explosive device] and aircraft fatigue."

The transport with nine RAF personnel and a soldier was half-way through its flight from Baghdad to a United States special operations base at Balad when it crashed, strewing blazing wreckage across a wide area.

It is believed to have been flying at an altitude above 4570m to avoid hostile fire.

The insurgents are known to have SAMs but it would be unprecedented for one to bring down a plane flying at a height previously thought to be safe.

The inquiry team will produce a report on the "lessons to be learned" from the accident, which could include the need for more evasive action in future.

Hercules planes routinely dive steeply and throw out chaff to deflect incoming missiles when they are coming in to land, but a missile capable of reaching alliance aircraft could mean they will have to fly higher in future.

- INDEPENDENT