The Ministry of Defence is being pursued for compensation by at least 180 current and former aircrew members who have received cancer diagnoses. The aircrew members claim this has been caused by exposure to toxic fumes while operating four military aircraft – the Sea King, the Westland Wessex, the Puma, and the CH-47 Chinook.
One such veteran was Zach Stubbings, who trained the Prince of Wales on RAF Sea King. When Zach was 33, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of incurable blood cancer rarely found in those under 65. After investigating this, he discovered there were many others who had developed cancer after working on military aircraft. Most commonly, lung, throat, testicular and rare blood cancers.
The solicitor who represented Zach in his claim has submitted 50 claims so far against the MoD from aircrew and veterans with cancer. She believes this is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’, and there will be many more claims as more diagnoses are discovered in the future.
To successfully bring a personal injury claim, there must be a breach of duty which caused the claimant some harm or loss. The claimants must demonstrate that the Ministry of Defence had breached their duty of care by exposing them to harmful exhaust fumes without any PPE, and that this caused their cancer.
The MoD have not admitted liability. They have said they believe the engine exhaust emissions are of no risk to health but are conducting investigations to demonstrate this. They also say that they intend to find out exact numbers of former air crew diagnosed with cancer.
Zach’s case is one of six that have achieved out of court settlements, without the MoD admitting liability.
At Amicus Law, we understand the devastating impact a cancer diagnosis can have – especially when it may have been preventable. If you or a loved one served in the armed forces and have been affected by similar circumstances, our team is here to help. We are committed to supporting veterans and service personnel in seeking the justice and compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a confidential consultation and let us help you navigate your legal options.
You can read the original article on the BBC website here – Military aircrew pursuing MoD after cancer diagnoses reaches 180 – BBC News