Investigation into fire onboard aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

BBC HMS Queen ElizabethBBC

An investigation has been launched into the cause of a fire which broke out onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth while it was moored in Argyll and Bute.

The aircraft carrier was en-route to Rosyth to undergo repairs when the blaze broke out during a stop on Loch Long at Glenmallan on 8 March.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the blaze was quickly extinguished and no ordnance was involved in the incident.

A spokesman added that personnel in the vicinity were able to return to work.

A Royal Navy Spokesperson said: "An isolated fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished and there are no reported injuries.

"We take the health and safety of our personnel extremely seriously and are investigating to understand the cause.

"This will have no impact on HMS Queen Elizabeth's programme and the Royal Navy continues to fulfil all its commitments."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We received a call at 11.50pm on Friday, 8 March to assist partners at Glen Mallan Jetty, Argyll and Bute.

"Operations Control mobilised three appliances and a height vehicle.

"Crews remained on standby to assist and left at 2.15am on Saturday, 9 March."

The ship had to withdraw from a Nato exercise last month because of an issue with a starboard propeller shaft coupling.

HMS Prince of Wales was sent on the Steadfast Defender exercise instead, with HMS Queen Elizabeth setting sail from its base at Portsmouth to the Rosyth dockyard to fix the issue.