MOD Sued by Helo Crews
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MOD Sued by Helo Crews
https://archive.ph/2024.05.29-051953...ters-jfltlr3dm
MoD faces cancer legal action over helicopter crew ‘dying from fumes’
Dozens of former pilots and aircrew are suing after being exposed to toxic emissions from British military choppers
Serving and former pilots and aircrew are allegedly dying of cancer after being unwittingly exposed to toxic exhaust fumes pumped out by British military helicopters.
The Ministry of Defence knew about the potential risks to its personnel for more than a decade and did nothing about it, according to testimony from sick personnel and their family members.
Troops who flew in Sea King, Wessex and more recently Puma and Chinook helicopters have been diagnosed with cancers such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, throat cancer and testicular cancer.
The Times can reveal that nearly 40 of those affected are in the process of suing the MoD, with the number expected to double in the coming weeks as more people come forward.
Lawyers described the cases so far as the tip of the iceberg. Those affected include personnel from all three services and of all ranks, from those in the highest positions in the armed forces to leading aircrew and sergeants….
Five former service personnel have received out-of-court settlements, including a former flight sergeant and helicopter winchman, Zach Stubbings, who trained Prince William, who also served on Sea King helicopters.….
MoD faces cancer legal action over helicopter crew ‘dying from fumes’
Dozens of former pilots and aircrew are suing after being exposed to toxic emissions from British military choppers
Serving and former pilots and aircrew are allegedly dying of cancer after being unwittingly exposed to toxic exhaust fumes pumped out by British military helicopters.
The Ministry of Defence knew about the potential risks to its personnel for more than a decade and did nothing about it, according to testimony from sick personnel and their family members.
Troops who flew in Sea King, Wessex and more recently Puma and Chinook helicopters have been diagnosed with cancers such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, throat cancer and testicular cancer.
The Times can reveal that nearly 40 of those affected are in the process of suing the MoD, with the number expected to double in the coming weeks as more people come forward.
Lawyers described the cases so far as the tip of the iceberg. Those affected include personnel from all three services and of all ranks, from those in the highest positions in the armed forces to leading aircrew and sergeants….
Five former service personnel have received out-of-court settlements, including a former flight sergeant and helicopter winchman, Zach Stubbings, who trained Prince William, who also served on Sea King helicopters.….
Surely this legal action would also impact other countries who still use the Puma and Chinook in military service but then you have the civilian companies/organisations too, especially those who still use Puma in the oil/gas industry. This could snowball very rapidly if the link is proven.
There will be quite a number of military and civilian operators who will be watching the progress of this very closely and possibly employing their own studies and lawyers in readiness for further claims/cases.
There will be quite a number of military and civilian operators who will be watching the progress of this very closely and possibly employing their own studies and lawyers in readiness for further claims/cases.
As I recall in the early 90's we at TSW were visited to ascertain the noise, fumes etc alongside the PPE we wore during hot refuels. We did a few AC including the Wessex where the tech actually declined to let us know the readings as he wanted to pass the findings on for further analysis.......I do recall the Wessex (front refuel point) and the Seaking were particularly bad for fumes alongside the Puma (in certain conditions) and suffered from streaming eyes etc. Will be interesting if groundcrew/ TSW etc ever have this looked at alongside the Aircrew.
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I’ve seen studies where aircrew are shown to be 13% more likely than the population to develop non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Some studies have linked this with exposure to cosmic radiation but this latest report about fumes is interesting. Who hasn’t been exposed to burnt Jet fuel in and around aircraft?
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I don't know where they got 1999 from. In 1988 every company supplying MoD were paid to go through their design records and required by law to declare hazardous substances, under the Montreal Protocol. Any positive declarations were then investigated.
That same year major technical problems and hazards caused by Sea King efflux was investigated. That was then passed to 'affected parties', as per regs, which includes aero med.
Then, from 1990, the funding was pulled as part of the savings at the expense of safety policy.
In 1990, heavy landings and crews in sick bay due to fume inhalation in Lynx (not efflux) was met with 'The RN can take a running jump, ground their aircraft, and come a-begging next year'.
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The smell from the exhaust of the Bell 407 was distinctly different from our B206 fleet. Stings the eyes, catch the breath in your throat.
I sort of wish I hadn’t seen this. I have just begun to have a throat problem investigated, although it has taken some effort (and time) to get my GP interested. (7000hrs approx Whirlwind/Wessex/Chinook plus Gazelle + Squirrel)
Last edited by Shackman; 29th May 2024 at 20:50.
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IIRC from my 13000 hrs C130K time the cargo compartment always smelt of a mixture of exhaust fumes and electric and hydraulic fumes. The tanker smelt even worse with the tanks in the cargo compartment. I also wonder what effect my groundcrew time on the Javelin, Hunter and Lightning had especially from the starting systems.
When the weather is particularly chilly up here on the N Sea (so from August to May, I know..) it’s not uncommon to see the helideck crews standing in the engine exhaust in an attempt to keep warm. I have started telling them not to, “you really really don’t want to be breathing that in!”. They don’t seem to do it again.
Whilst I have great sympathy for those who are suffering, where are the stats that show the number of people who do not or did not have any ill effects when they worked or flew in these aircraft?
Life isn’t always fair.
Life isn’t always fair.
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Whilst I have great sympathy for those who are suffering, where are the stats that show the number of people who do not or did not have any ill effects when they worked or flew in these aircraft?
I note Tucumseh’s comments about papers and declarations in 1988 which were passed to Aero Med and are presumably available in the archives - and that five of the original claimants received out-of-court settlements, which is not something the MOD and Treasury are known to be generous with, unless it’s to prevent evidence coming to light which would result in a far greater future liability.
When the weather is particularly chilly up here on the N Sea (so from August to May, I know..) it’s not uncommon to see the helideck crews standing in the engine exhaust in an attempt to keep warm. I have started telling them not to, “you really really don’t want to be breathing that in!”. They don’t seem to do it again.
I’m curious why this is being highlighted as a military problem and why the US do not have a head start in evidence and litigation.