COBHAM ON DEFENSIVE

A SCANDAL which saw helicopter pilots at defence firm Cobham buy fake degrees had no impact on safety, bosses have said.

Seven British nationals at Cobham-owned contractor FB Heliservices bought the documents between 2013 and 2015 – including two pilots. And a threemonth probe, completed last June, said the issue was related to a handful of staff based at Curacao in the Caribbean.

Chief executive David Lockwood said the employees had the required qualifications and the ability to do the jobs, and that there was no impact on safety.