What happened
The incident occurred during a routine training exercise departing from RAF Millom. While conducting low-level maneuvers in the immediate vicinity of the airbase, the aircraft lost control and entered a steep, uncontrolled descent. Witnesses reported that the airframe was already ablaze before it impacted the water surface adjacent to the facility. The crash resulted in the fatalities of all four crew members on board.
Findings
The specific technical cause of the loss of control has not been detailed in the available records. However, visual evidence confirmed by eyewitnesses indicated that a fire was present prior to the impact with the sea, suggesting a potential mechanical or structural failure preceding the final descent.