Five Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officers face criminal charges following the death of a Maidstone soldier in a helicopter crash seven years ago.

Captain Ben Babington-Browne and two Canadian colleagues were killed in July 2009 when the aircraft carrying them crashed shortly after taking off from a base in Afghanistan.

The Griffon CH146434 was Canadian and flown by two Canadian pilots. It had been transporting the former Maidstone Grammar School pupil from a recce at Forward Operating Base Mescall to his base at Kandahar.

In 2014 an inquest, which was delayed as assistant coroner Andrew Campbell-Tiech QC fought to get information from the Canadian authorities, heard the helicopter spun into a perimeter fence after taking off in a dustball.

Capt Babington-Browne, 27, who was serving with 22 Engineer Regiment, was trapped in the wreckage and died from multiple injuries and inhaling fumes as it burst into flames and ammunition began exploding.

Mr Campbell-Tiech said while no details of the Board of Inquiry carried out following the incident were released to the UK, the evidence of expert witness Lieutenant Commander William Robley, who was involved in it, showed the helicopter was not the correct one for the mission,was overloaded and the crew were insufficiently trained to take off in a dustball.

He concluded Capt Babington-Browne’s death was the result of an accident while on active duty.

Two years on, the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service confirmed it is investigating five officers over claims of negligence by a former military official.

Col Scott Clancy, the commander of 1 Wing which is responsible for helicopter units, said: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of our brother-in-arms who lost their lives in the crash.

“The RCAF has participated fully in all the previous investigations and has implemented all the recommendations to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.

“That said, we take accusations of negligence seriously and welcome any further investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

“The airmen and airwomen of the RCAF continue to prove on a daily basis they are among the most professional and best trained aircrews in the world.”