Squadron Leader Kai Macnaughton, who succumbed to a rare and severe blood disorder three weeks after his diagnosis, was one of several military people who developed the rare cancer as a result of toxic fume exposure, according to the Ministry of Defense (MOD).
During his twenty years of service with the special forces, Macnaughton was subjected to the harmful exhaust fumes produced by Puma and Chinook helicopters. After consulting with other military helicopter service members who had also developed cancer, Clare, his widow, felt confident that this was the reason for her husband’s illness.
Mrs. Macnaughton is contemplating a civil lawsuit against the MOD, notwithstanding their denial of responsibility, for failing to apprise her husband of the dangers posed by serving on the helicopters. Additionally, she has been informed that she is eligible for a war widow pension due to the service-related nature of her husband’s death.
Anna Irwin, a 38-year-old RAF sergeant who passed away from lung cancer in October 2017, has prompted calls for an investigation by her father into the consequences of exposure to harmful fumes. According to her father, Mick, if they had done something, her death, and others, may have been prevented.
At present, almost one hundred individuals are considering suing the MOD, claiming that harmful vapors caused cancer.
According to Jonathan Dingle, a prominent attorney at Normanton Chambers, the engine jet efflux gasses, which include benzene carcinogens, were presumably drawn into the cabin and then released through the cockpits, blending with the air that everyone on board was inhaling. Unfortunately, the British military did not supply its airmen with any sort of filtration equipment, including masks, filters, or cleansed air.
A ‘groundbreaking’ accord reached at the High Court saw the Ministry of Defense accept responsibility for the hearing loss experienced by former military personnel. The agreement will be binding only on members of the regular and reserve forces who have served since 1987; cadets and civilian military personnel are not.
The Ministry of Defense acknowledges that service-related noise exposure caused hearing loss, although it may disagree on the degree to which this occurred in specific instances.
A trial with many “test cases” is anticipated to take place from October to December 2025.