The Ministry of Defence has reportedly conceded that the death of an RAF pilot who lost his life to cancer was related to his service as it awarded his widow a pension.
Sqn Ldr Kai Macnaughton was 52 and still serving in the military when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood vessel cancer and died three weeks later aged 53, the Times reported.
He had been exposed to toxic exhaust fumes while flying thousands of hours on Puma helicopters as a navigator and then as a pilot on Chinook helicopters supporting special forces operations over two decades.
During his service he completed seven tours of Afghanistan and was mentioned in dispatches for his involvement in a rescue operation during the conflict.
His widow, Clare Macnaughton, told the newspaper that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) admitting his cancer was related to his military service was “vindication”.
In a letter received this month from Veterans UK, the support organisation of the MoD, it said her “husband’s passing was service related” and she was entitled to a war widows pension. It also said she would be considered for a pension from the armed forces pension scheme as a result.
However, the MoD did not admit any fault and Macnaughton said she would continue to pursue a civil case against it for failing to tell her husband about the risk and to offer him protective clothing.
“It’s important because it paves the way for civil action. It’s also given me a sense of closure and vindication for Kai,” she said.
It is understood the MoD often issues a war pension to those whose partners have died of cancer while still serving, without admitting fault.
Macnaughton is among more than 100 people suing the MoD claiming it was exposure to toxic fumes that caused either their cancer of that of their loved ones.
An MoD spokesperson said: “We hugely value our service personnel and veterans and owe a debt of gratitude to all those who serve, often with great personal sacrifice.
“We continually review our policies to ensure they are aligned with good practice and protect our people from harm.
“Service personnel and veterans who believe they have suffered ill-health due to service, from 6 April 2005, have the existing and long-standing right to apply for no-fault compensation under the armed forces compensation scheme.”
The MoD added it did not comment on individual claims.
