A former flying instructor who once trained Prince William has passed away after a long battle with cancer, which he and many others believe was caused by prolonged exposure to toxic exhaust fumes from military helicopters.

Zach Stubbings was diagnosed with multiple myeloma—a type of blood and bone marrow cancer—in 2013, thirteen years after joining the RAF Search and Rescue at just 21 years old.

The former flight sergeant and helicopter winchman tragically lost his fight last month at the age of 47, spending his final days in a hospice.

He leaves behind his wife, Anna-Louise, who has already endured heartbreaking loss—her first husband and seven-year-old son were killed by a reckless driver in 2015.

Former RAF and Navy pilots have accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of failing to protect aircrew from harmful emissions linked to military helicopters. Many have since been diagnosed with cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma, after flying in Sea King, Wessex, Puma, and Chinook helicopters.

Legal battles have revealed that the MoD may have known about these risks for over a decade but failed to act. Documents suggest awareness of the Sea King’s exhaust dangers as early as 1999.

One pilot, Zach, shared his experience: “The exhaust comes right through the cargo door. If you’re working on the winch, you’re putting your head right into it.”