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A soldier serving in the British Army has received a six-figure sum in compensation from the Ministry of Defence following a terrifying ordeal during a flight to Afghanistan.

Remaining anonymous for legal reasons while further ongoing cases continue, Soldier B was a passenger on an RAF Voyager military aeroplane flying from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when the plane suddenly plummeted toward the ground for nearly 30 seconds. He was one of nearly 200 passengers on board, some of whom were pinned to the ceiling of the plane during the event.

As a result of the incident he suffered soft tissue damage from being thrown around the plane, but more critically he was convinced he was going to die, and has subsequently suffered from serious psychological injuries amounting to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The pilot of the plane initially claimed that the incident had occurred as a result of a technical issue, but later admitted that it was his camera that caused the plane to nose-dive. He had apparently been bored during the flight and had been taking long-exposure photographs with his SLR camera on the arm-rest of his seat. When the co-pilot left the cockpit briefly to make a cup of tea, the camera fell from the armrest and jammed against the controls, disengaging the auto-pilot and sending the aircraft into a nose-dive which lasted nearly 30 seconds during which the plane descended over 4,000 feet.

Soldier B has since been discharged from the army as a result of his injuries but continues to suffer from anxiety and post traumatic stress. The compensation paid out to him will hopefully assist him in rebuilding his life after the army.

If you or someone you care for has been injured while serving in the armed forces; either through a physical or a mental injury or illness, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. The Ministry of Defence runs its own compensation schemes through Veterans UK, but in some cases it is also appropriate to file a personal injury claim for damage that you have endured. Our solicitors are on hand now to answer any questions you may have about making a claim and contacting us is completely free. You are under no obligation to continue with a claim if you choose not to do so, but time limits are in place so don’t put off calling us until it’s too late – contact us today and let us help you get the compensation pay out that you and your family deserve.