Ex-RAF pilots who say they developed cancer as a result of toxic fumes from military helicopters have launched legal action against the Ministry of Defence. Defenseclaiming that the government had been aware of the risks for more than a decade but did nothing.
Staff traveling in Wessex, Puma, Chinook and Sea King helicopters have developed a range of diseases including multiple myeloma, lung cancer, testicular cancer and throat cancer. The times.
A total of 40 of them are believed to be suing the Ministry of Defense, with the number who have come forward likely to double in the coming weeks.
At least three people are said to have been killed so far, leaving their relatives to continue the fight for justice.
Some have already reached out-of-court settlements, including Zach Stubbings, the former flight sergeant who Prince William.
Documents show that the Ministry of Defense had been aware of the dangers since 1999, but the aircrews were allowed to continue flying.
Jonathan Dingle, a barrister at Normanton Chambers, said gases containing dangerous benzene carcinogens were “apparently sucked into the cabin and out through the cockpits”.
He explained: “The Germans knew about it at about the same time and installed longer exhaust options on some of their planes to suck out the exhaust.”
In contrast, British military personnel were given “no masks or filters or purified air or any kind of filtration system,” Mr Dingle pointed out, adding: “They were not warned about the whole system.”
A Department of Defense spokesperson said: “We greatly value our service personnel and veterans and owe a debt of gratitude to all who serve, often at great personal sacrifice.
“We continually review our policies to ensure they are in line with good practice and to protect our people from harm.
“Service personnel and veterans who believe they have suffered ill health as a result of their service from April 6, 2005, have an existing and long-standing right to seek no-fault compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.”