RAF Tornado Crash: Remains Of Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders Found Two Weeks After Accident

RAF Crash Pilot's Remains Found

The remains of an RAF pilot have been recovered from the site of a Tornado jet crash off the north coast of Scotland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, 27, had been missing since the accident involving two jets over the Moray Firth on 3 July, along with Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey, 26.

The MoD said the remains were those of Flt Lt Sanders while additional remains also recovered from the wreckage were still being formally identified.

Flt Lt Sanders joins Flt Lt Hywel Poole and Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey as the men confirmed dead in the accident.

The two Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth, north-east Scotland, came down south of Wick two weeks ago.

The crew were all from 15 (Reserve) Squadron.

Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole (left), who was killed and Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders (centre) and Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey (right)

Flight Lieutenant Sanders was educated at Scarisbrick Hall School in Lancashire before joining the RAF.

At the time he went missing, Wing Commander Jonathan Moreton, who leads the squadron, said his skills had been recognised early in his career when he was selected as an instructor on the Hawk T1 aircraft.

"He continued to demonstrate very high standards and a real enthusiasm toward flying the Tornado GR4," Moreton said.

"I was impressed with his commitment to the squadron; he was a well-liked, hardworking and an enthusiastic individual. He had enormous potential as both a pilot and officer.

Two of the Tornado class jets crashed into the Firth last month

"Adam was looking forward to joining 617 Squadron after completion of the Operational Conversion Course.

"I am sure that the loss of this capable and much-admired pilot will be keenly felt by all on my squadron and the Royal Air Force community at large. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

Squadron Leader Bailey, originally from Nottingham, joined the Tornado Force in 2001, serving in operations over Iraq. He had been an instructor with 15 (Reserve) Squadron since 2004.

Flight Lieutenant Poole was born in Bangor and had been training on the Tornado GR4 since November last year.

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