A senior Royal Air Force officer died by suicide while facing a misconduct investigation, an inquest was told. Russ Foster-Jones, 51, was found hanged in an Airbnb in June 2025, approximately one year after an investigation into his conduct during his service in the RAF began.
A complaint was filed in April 2024 against Foster-Jones, who held the rank of Group Captain and served as Provost Marshal of the RAF police force before joining BAE Systems the previous year. The specific allegations were not disclosed during the inquest held in Preston, Lancashire.
His widow, Emma Foster-Jones, stated in a court testimony that her husband was a man of strong duty and was significantly affected by the suggestion he had acted improperly. The couple married in 1997 and lived abroad during his RAF career.
Investigators from the Service Complaints and Business Committee (SBCC), an independent body tasked with examining complaints within the RAF, contacted Foster-Jones in November 2024. He was also interviewed under caution at Lancashire Police headquarters in Hutton as part of the probe.
Months later, Foster-Jones was informed that the investigation was nearing completion. However, he was subsequently suspended before its conclusion.
Mrs. Foster-Jones reported that her husband expressed concern about the investigation and sought assistance from his employer. He disclosed feelings of depression and anxiety to a BAE psychotherapist but later indicated he no longer required further sessions after ten appointments.
On June 18, 2025, Foster-Jones sent a pre-scheduled text message to a friend stating his intention to take his own life. Police responded to the address and found him alive; he assured them he was feeling better and posed no immediate danger to himself.
The following day, emergency services were called to an Airbnb in Churchtown, Lancashire, where they discovered Foster-Jones had died by suicide.
Area Coroner Emma Mather inquired about the investigation's timeline and safeguarding measures for Foster-Jones. Recording a conclusion of suicide, Ms. Mather remarked that while the management of the investigation was flawed, it could not be definitively stated that it solely contributed to his declining mental health.