Army Officer Killed by Tank With Nine Faults During Training Exercise

An inquest has heard that a promising British Army officer was killed during a training exercise when a Warrior FV511 tank, which had nine known faults, reversed over him. Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, died on June 21, 2022, on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, moments after exiting the stationary vehicle.

The court was told that the tank's driver and commander did not realize the officer was still at the rear of the vehicle. Second Lieutenant George had exited the tank while it was stopped and was attempting to retrieve his weapon from inside while holding open the rear door, weighing 143kg (22st 7lb).

Due to a series of faults in the tank's safety systems, its operators were unaware the rear door was still open and that Second Lieutenant George was in the vehicle's blind spot. The Warrior then reversed at speed during a combat drill, striking and fatally injuring the officer.

Lieutenant Colonel Graham Watson, who led a service investigation into the incident, informed the inquest that six of the nine faults were classified as 'limited role' faults, meaning the vehicle could not be used for live firing. The remaining three were 'fully fit' faults related to the rear doors, which did not technically prevent its use.

One of the critical faults involved a snapped cable on an alarm designed to sound if the rear doors were open and the vehicle was in gear. This alarm had been identified in June 2018, three years before the fatal incident. However, the inquest heard there was no requirement to deem the vehicle unfit for use if this specific alarm was not functioning.

Additionally, the rear door locking plunger was stuck, preventing it from being locked in position. Colonel Watson explained that anyone standing up to 4.8 meters away from the vehicle would be in its blind spot. While the driver's panel had a 'door open' light, the broken wiring loop meant it did not function, leaving the driver unaware if the door was open or closed.

Second Lieutenant George, described as 'utterly exceptional,' had a distinguished academic and military record. He was a former head pupil and boating captain at Durham School, where his parents were teachers. After completing a master's degree, he joined the regular Army and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in December 2021, where he won the Queen's Medal for best cadet. He was serving as a platoon commander for the Fifth Battalion, The Rifles, at the time of his death. His mother, Vivienne George, testified that her son was "utterly professional" with "effortless leadership qualities" and was highly regarded by his peers.

The Warrior FV511 tank involved in the incident was noted as being different and more difficult to exit than the usual FV510 model. The exercise involved platoons engaging in simulated combat, and Second Lieutenant George had been tasked with coordinating two sections on the ground to prevent friendly fire.

The inquest, which began at Salisbury Coroner's Court, is expected to continue for three days. Two safety supervisors arrived at the scene within seconds of the incident but were unable to resuscitate the officer.