Tornado jet 'accidentally' drops practice bomb during flight across Britain

The 14kg bomb was lost from a Tornado GR4 aircraft during a 90-minute flight from its base at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, yesterday.

The non-explosive device fell some time during a 90-minute journey across the country.

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The RAF has yet to locate the bomb and warned the public against touching it.

A Lossiemouth spokesman said: "Even if the practice bomb survived the fall, we would stress it is highly unlikely to represent a significant danger to the public.

"However, anyone who finds what they believe to be the bomb, which is approximately two and a half feet long and dark blue in colour, is advised not to touch the device but to inform the police of its location."

An investigation into the cause of the bomb's release was launched following the incident.

Practice bombs are not live devices but are made to look and feel like real bombs.

Made from concrete, they contain a small fuse that gives off smoke when they hit their target.

They are used during training exercises to give pilots the experience of flying with real ammunition and to practise their aim.

The RAF said around half of the 700-mile flight took place over sea.

The overland journey included a low-level route through Northumberland and north-east Scotland.

Air force chiefs were today investigating whether a technical fault was responsible for the accidental dropping of the practice bomb.

A spokesman for RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, where the aircraft is based, said it was not thought human error was to blame.

"An investigation has been launched into how and why this practice bomb could come off an aircraft," he said.

"We are looking at electronic or mechanical issues rather than air crew error.

"When air crew drop any kind of bomb there is an electronic pulse given out which is recorded.

"There is no such record of the practice bomb being dropped by this crew."

He added that they were examining the aircraft and its systems for any irregularities.

"We take incidents such as this very seriously," said the spokesman.

The RAF has yet to locate the 2.5ft long, dark blue non-explosive device and warned the public against touching it.

It said it was "highly unlikely" to represent a significant danger to the public.

The spokesman added: "Anyone who finds what they believe to be the bomb is advised not to touch the device but to inform the police of its location."

He added that they had decided not to suspend the use of the bombs while the investigation was under way.

Practice bombs are not live devices but are made to look and feel like real bombs.

Last year the RAF issued a warning to the public after one of its Tornado jets lost part of a practice bomb during a flight.

The aircraft was on its way back to its base at RAF Lossiemouth when its metal tail-fin, which contains a smoke cartridge, fell off.