- Prince William's ex instructor dies
- Zach Stubbings was battling cancer
- Pilots fight back
The tragic death of Zach Stubbings, Prince William's former flying instructor, has once again highlighted the dangers of toxic fumes from military helicopters. Stubbings, who battled cancer for over a decade, passed away at the age of 47, according to The Times. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, thirteen years after joining the RAF.
His loss has been particularly devastating for his wife, Anna-Louise, who previously endured the heartbreaking deaths of her first husband and seven-year-old son in 2015.
Prince William’s former flying instructor dies of cancer
Zach Stubbings was a highly respected instructor who trained Prince William during his time in the RAF. The two worked together at RAF Valley in Anglesey from 2010 to 2013. Stubbings’ diagnosis in 2013 followed years of exposure to exhaust fumes from military helicopters, raising renewed concerns about the health risks faced by service members.
The toxic fumes contained carcinogenic substances released by the Sea King helicopters, in which Stubbings logged over 2,500 flying hours. He once described the conditions to 'The Daily Mail' as unbearable: "If you're by the cargo door, the exhaust comes right through. Even worse, if you're working on the winch, which I was, you're putting your head right out into it. We had to clean everything. It didn't feel right."
Pilots fight back
Stubbings isn’t alone in his battle. Other former pilots, like Richard Sutton, accuse the Ministry of Defense of exposing them to harmful emissions without protection. A group of affected pilots, called "Fly Hard, Fight Hard," has come together to raise awareness of the issue. Tragically, the group has already lost several members to cancer.
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