Nimrod families demand resignations

An independent review by the aviation lawyer Charles Haddon-Cave QC found the loss of the Nimrod MR2 after it refuelled over Afghanistan in September 2006 had been preventable.

It also found a safety review of the ageing Nimrod MR2 fleet, completed the year before, had been a "lamentable job" that was "riddled with errors" and had failed to identify serious design flaws which led to the crash.

At the same time, Mr Haddon-Cave said there had been a "systemic breach" of the Military Covenant - the nation's duty of care to the armed forces - as financial cuts had led to a "dilution" of the airworthiness regime within the MoD.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth told the Commons he accepted the review's findings and would be publishing the MoD's detailed response before Parliament breaks for Christmas.

"I am sorry for the mistakes that have been made, and that lives have been lost as a result of our failure," he said.

The deaths marked the biggest single loss of life suffered by the British military since the Falklands War.

Trish Knight, whose son Ben was killed in the crash, said the conduct of the MoD over the past three years had been "disgraceful". She added: "It's what we've said all along. The MoD tried to tell us everything was fine. There should be some resignations by top people over the lies they have been telling us since 2006."

Joe Windall, whose son Joe also died on board, said the findings had been "astonishing". He added: "The inefficiencies of someone caused me to lose my son."

Mr Haddon-Cave said: "Financial pressures and cuts drove a cascade of multifarious organisational changes which led to a dilution of the airworthiness regime and culture within the MoD, and distraction from safety and airworthiness issues as the top priority."