RAF pilot dismissed over plane nosedive

AN RAF pilot has been dismissed from the service for negligence after he cost the MoD millions of pounds by causing a military passenger jet to go into a nosedive when his digital camera deactivated the autopilot.

Flight Lieutenant Andrew Townshend admitted negligently performing a duty in relation to the Nikon camera, which was pushed into the aircraft’s control stick as he moved his seat.

But the 49-year-old was cleared at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, by a board of RAF officers of perjury and making a false record.

Townshend put his head in his hands as he was handed a four-month prison term suspended for a year.

The court heard many of the 198 crew and passengers thought they were going to die when the Voyager aircraft plummeted 4,400ft in seconds, causing some to be thrown weightless into the air and crash into the ceiling.

Judge Advocate Alan Large said up to 48 personnel were left unfit for duty after the incident. The co-pilot, Flight Lieutenant Nathan Jones, suffered fractures to his spine and is still unable to fly.

He said: “This was not a momentary lapse of concentration. Your eye was well off the ball.”

Nigel Lickley QC, prosecuting, said the incident led to the grounding of the military fleet of six Voyager aircraft for 13 days while the cause of the nosedive was investigated.

The defendant, who had done 5,500 flying hours, had said he had been “bored” and had been stargazing and taking photos.