Inquest to look at plane safety

The inquest is a "massive task"

The inquest into the deaths of 10 servicemen killed when a Hercules was shot down in Iraq will look at whether the aircraft was properly protected.

In January 2005 a Wiltshire-based Hercules travelling was hit by ground-to-air fire, causing caused an explosion in a wing fuel tank.

An inquiry said the lack of anti- explosive foam (ESF) in the tanks may have contributed to the crash.

It also said the crash was not survivable.

The Wiltshire Coroner, David Masters, told the BBC the investigation into the deaths was a massive task.

He said: "My investigator has dealt with many issues raised at the pre-inquest review, one of which is the foam issue."

He also said he was confident that extra government money would mean no delays for military inquests in Wiltshire after a row over funding early this year.

"With that funding, I don't intend to allow any backlog to build up," he said.