AIR accident investigators have urged the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to review procedures after a series of near-misses over the North-East between fast military planes and passenger aircraft.

A report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) also recommends that the Civil Aviation Authority should look at arrangements to ensure civilian aircraft are properly protected from military aircraft operating in "unregulated airspace".

This is airspace outside the airports' control.

The call follows nine near misses in four years amidst fears of a catastrophe with "likely large scale loss of life".

The AAIB report said the most recent incident, a "serious airprox" (aircraft proximity), occurred between an RAF Tornado and a helicopter returning to Aberdeen from an oil platform on February 5.

It said the helicopter crew "became aware of a roaring noise coupled by a very short time later, the sudden onset of harsh and severe turbulence.

"The commander grabbed the controls and looked across the cockpit to the left in time to see the co-pilot's windscreen and quarter light filled with what he believed to be the rear section of a Tornado aircraft at a range of 50ft."

In March 2001, crew on a Shorts twin-engined aircraft to Newcastle from Aberdeen were told by the radar controller to avoid an RAF Tornado F3, estimated to be as close as 100ft above and 300ft to the side. In August 2001, a twin-engined Fokker 50 had a near miss with a US Air Force F15E fighter jet south-east of Teesside Airport.

Other near misses included a flight in April 2002 carrying three crew and 16 passengers leaving Newcastle for Norway, which came within 3,450ft of two Sea Harriers on a practice interception.

In July 2002, "in one of the most serious incidents they (the UK Airprox Board) had seen", a civil transport plane going to Newcastle came within 100ft of an RAF Jaguar, said the report.

The crew member of the plane saw the military jet "in a flash passing underneath while in a steep climb".

The report includes information on three incidents last June, including an airprox between a F100 aircraft leaving Teesside for Amsterdam and three fast jets.

Three days later, a Learjet was told to take avoidance action because of the "unknown intentions" of nearby military aircraft, and on June 24 a plane south of Aberdeen was ordered to turn right to avoid two military jets.

Last October, an Airbus approaching Newcastle airport was issued with avoiding action and traffic information to avoid a military aircraft.

Airport air traffic services manager Chris Davis said: "This is an issue between the CAA and the MoD. At a local level, I think we have done a lot to address what are considered to be problems, and have virtually eradicated them."

Teesside Airport spokes-man John Waiting said: "Anything which makes air travel safer has got to be welcomed and the airport would certainly like to take part in any discussions."