The family of a Shropshire airman killed with 13 colleagues in a plane crash in Afghanistan was this afternoon waiting to hear the outcome of an official inquiry into the disaster.

Flight Sergeant Gerard Bell, formerly of Brookside, Telford, died in the RAF Nimrod crash on September 2 last year. The crew was on an intelligence-gathering mission.

Mr Bell’s widow, Fiona, has travelled to London with her two daughters to be presented with the findings of the report, published by the Ministry of Defence, along with the families of the other crew members who lost their lives.

The crash caused the biggest loss of life among British forces in a single incident since the Falklands War.

It has been widely reported that the ageing Nimrod MR2 reconnaissance aircraft suffered a catastrophic mid-air explosion after a fire broke out in the bomb bay following a fuel leak.

If that is confirmed when Defence Secretary Des Browne announces the findings of the Board of Inquiry in a statement to MPs today, it will lead to fresh questions as to why the aircraft was allowed to carry on flying.

The RAF is already facing accusations that it ignored repeated warnings that the Nimrod MR2 had a history of dangerous fuel leaks.

In a statement released previously, the MoD said: “If we didn’t have confidence in the aircraft, we would not continue to fly them.”

Speaking to the Shropshire Star today, Mrs Bell’s father, William Kane, of Newport, said: “We want to know the outcome for the sake of the next lot of people who fly – to make sure the planes are safe.”

Mr and Mrs Bell, who were both educated at the Blessed Robert Johnson School in Wellington, celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary just five days before the 48-year-old’s death.

They had just bought their first home at Forres, near the RAF Kinloss base in Moray, Scotland, where Mr Bell was stationed. He was described by his widow as a “fantastic husband and father”.