ROYAL Air Force helicopters based in Hong Kong have been grounded after a fatal crash in Britain, but risks will be taken to fly emergency missions, the Commander British Forces, Major-General John Foley, said yesterday.
Orders from the Ministry of Defence in London have banned non-operational use of all 60 Wessex helicopters used by the RAF around the world, including the eight flown by 28 Squadron based at Sek Kong.
Investigations are continuing into the cause of last Friday's crash in Snowdonia, north Wales, in which three teenage cadets were killed and four others injured.
Preliminary reports indicate the drive shaft to the tail rotor failed, causing loss of directional control. Witnesses said they saw the tail rotor stop before the helicopter spun into a lake, sinking almost immediately.
Checks are being made to see if similar faults exist on the 29-year-old Wessexes at Sek Kong but they will be available for emergency use, said General Foley and the officer commanding 28 Squadron, Squadron Leader Steve Murkin.
The helicopters are used in air-sea rescues, fire-fighting and emergency evacuation as back-up for the Government Flying Services (GFS), in addition to their military role.
''For emergency or life-saving purposes our Wessexes will fly,'' General Foley said.