Sabotage ruled out in Hercules crash

An investigation into the crash of a Hercules C130 in Iraq has ruled out sabotage as the cause of the crash.

However, the interim report by the Royal Air Force (RAF) stated that it was "not yet in a position to establish the cause of the crash", which occurred on January 30.

Nine RAF men and one soldier were killed when the C130 crashed during a routine flight from Baghdad International Airport and Balad airbase.

The RAF report has ruled out a number of causes for the crash, including 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; and aircraft fatigue.

The report stated that the findings were also supported by the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The report said that there was still a "great deal of detailed evidence that has yet to be analysed and a number of lines of enquiry that need further investigation". The report also stated that the there would be no further comments or speculation regarding the cause of the crash until the investigation had been concluded.

The families of those killed in the crash are being informed personally of the findings of the interim report.

There had been speculation that the Hercules may have been shot down by Iraqi insurgents, shortly after the crash occurred. Arab television network, Aljazeera, broadcast a video, which showed missiles being fired at a plane as well as an explosion and apparent debris from an aircraft on the ground. However, it was not clear whether or not the plane was the Hercules.

A militant group, Ansar al-Islam also claimed responsibility for shooting down the RAF plane in a statement on a website, but Aljazeera reported that the claim could not be verified.

The investigation has not yet ruled out the possibility that the Hercules was shot down.

(KMcA/SP)