Two pilots missing after RAF Tornados crash It is understood that the aircraft, based at RAF Lossiemouth, were flying out to the North Sea when the incident happened near the Beatrice oilfield, about 25 miles off Wick. A rescue operation involving two Sea King helicopters from the base, as well as the Wick, Buckie and Invergordon lifeboats, was launched after the incident. Two airmen have been airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness as one aircraft was spotted in the water. RAF Lossiemouth is home to 617 Squadron, which is serving in Afghanistan, 12 (Bomber) Squadron and 15 (Reserve) Squadron. If the crews are from the front line squadrons they will certainly be veterans of the Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts with hundreds of hours flying experience. Despite the GR4s being introduced into service 25 years ago they have undergone multi-million pound upgrades putting them at the forefront of combat operations. But there have still been a number of incidents. Four Tornados have now been lost during exercises in Scotland in the past three years and the incident will raise new fears over the safety of training operations. In January 2011, an engine fire caused another Tornado from RAF Lossiemouth to crash into the sea off north-west Scotland. The pilot and navigator in that incident ejected safely. The following month, a Tornado crew was forced to eject after experiencing problems landing at RAF Lossiemouth . In July 2009, an RAF pilot and navigator were killed when their Tornado F3 fighter, from RAF Leuchars, crashed into a hillside in Argyll on a routine flight. Grp Capt Ian Gale, station commander at RAF Lossiemouth, said: "It is with great regret that I must confirm the loss of two Tornado GR4 aircraft from this station in an incident in the Moray Firth. The circumstances remain uncertain but clearly this is a very serious incident. The incident involved four aircrew, all personnel from this station, and the thoughts of everyone here are with the family and friends of those involved. This is an evolving situation and as such I am not prepared to comment on their condition or speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident.