Ex-RAF officer turned security boss at Lancashire's BAE Systems sites killed himself during misconduct probe

A former high-ranking RAF officer killed himself in Lancashire while under investigation for alleged misconduct during his service, an inquest has found.

His family said Russ Foster-Jones was "deeply affected" by being investigated.

Mr Foster-Jones, a former Group Captain, was head of security at the BAE Systems’ two Lancashire sites, in Warton and Samlesbury, at the time of his death.

Area coroner Emma Mather conducted a hearing at County Hall, Preston, into Mr Foster-Jones' death.

Questions were raised about the Service Police Complaints Commission (SPCC) investigation process and the support offered to 51-year-old Mr Foster-Jones during the year-long probe.

The details of the allegations against Mr Foster-Jones were not revealed at the inquest.

The former airman, who lived in the Preston area at the time of his death, was found hanged in an Air BnB he had rented in June 2025.

His widow Emma said in a statement that she and her husband were married in 1997 and during his RAF career they lived in many places, including overseas. Mr Foster-Jones was a Group Captain and rose to become Provost Marshall of the RAF police force.

In 2023 he was offered a role at BAE Systems and the family moved to Barton in 2024. He officially left the RAF in May of that year.

In November 2024 he was contacted by investigators at the SPCC - an independent body which investigates complaints against service police personnel - to say a complaint had been made against him in April.

He was interviewed under caution at Lancashire Police HQ at Hutton.

Mrs Foster-Jones said her husband was interviewed by the SPCC - a relatively new organisation at the time.

Some months later her husband was contacted by the SPCC to say the probe was nearly over. Mrs Foster-Jones said her husband was worried about the investigation and sought help from his employers at BAE.

He was later suspended from work pending completion of the investigation.

The inquest heard that Mr Foster-Jones told an independent psychotherapist, working with BAE, that he was feeling depressed and anxious. But after 10 sessions he himself felt he didn't need any more help.

Then in June 2025 he sent out a timed text message to a friend saying he had taken his own life. Police attended an address and found him safe and well and he said he was feeling better and no risk to himself.

The following day emergency services were called again to an address in Churchtown, where they found Mr Foster-Jones hanged in an Air BnB. Video notes and messages were found on his phones.

Mrs Foster-Jones said: "He was a good man with a strong sense of duty.

"He was deeply affected by the suggestion that he had done something wrong."

The coroner heard that the RAF referred the complaint against Mr Foster-Jones to the SPCC.

She raised questions with the SPCC about the timescale involved and safeguarding procedures for Mr Foster-Jones.

The inquest heard that procedures had since been improved.

Det Insp Madeleine Park, of Lancashire Police, said an officer was asked to assist the SPCC investigators when Mr Foster-Jones was interviewed.

A risk assessment was done on him on arrival.

Recording a suicide conclusion, coroner Ms Mather said although the way the SPCC investigation was managed was "flawed", it was impossible to say if that alone contributed to the decline in his mental health.

Mr Foster-Jones would have been very worried about the outcome of the probe.

A BAE Systems spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with Russ’s family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragic incident.

“BAE Systems cooperated fully with the coroner throughout its inquiry. At the inquest it was found that BAE Systems acted appropriately in its handling of both the employment issues relating to the SPCC’s investigation and the wellbeing support provided to Russ.”