LONDON (AFP) — Two members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) were killed Thursday when their Tornado F3 crashed during a routine flight in Scotland, the defence ministry said.
"It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of two RAF aircrew from 43 Squadron, RAF Leuchars, in a Tornado F3 crash today," the ministry said in a statement.
"The aircraft crashed during a routine training flight at 11.45am (1045 GMT) at Glen Kinglas in Argyll, Scotland."
An investigation had been launched into the crash, a spokesman added.
According to the defence ministry's website, Tornado F3s have been in service since 1985.
Their most important feature is the ability to patrol at long distance from their bases, and they are capable of operating in all weathers and at night.
An RAF pilot was killed along with a school-age cadet last month when their training plane collided mid-air with a civilian glider in Oxfordshire. The glider pilot parachuted to safety and was not harmed.
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