COST cutting could have been to blame for an aeroplane crash which killed 22 people and ruined the life of a Bolton survivor.

Experts believe that the pilot's failure to switch on de-icing equipment caused the twin engined private jet to crash into the sea off the Libyan coast.

And a coroner examining four of the deaths said the equipment may not have been kept on permanently because it cost too much money.

Great Lever man Brian Buckland, aged 59, was among seven Britons who survived the 98 mph crash but he is still traumatised after his ordeal and fighting for compensation from the oil company which employed him as a maintenance fitter at the Marsa el Brega refinery.

The plane was on the way to the refinery from Tripoli when it crashed five miles from its destination and survivors were rescued by local fishermen.

After the plane plunged into the water from 1,000ft, Mr Buckland swam to safety through a hole in the broken fuselage and clung to wreckage in the sea.

An inquest into four of the six British deaths was told that that equipment which prevented the engines from icing up was not kept on as a matter of routine.

The pilot, who was not used to flying in cold conditions, failed to switch it on and frozen rain water in the engines melted during the plane's descent and cut the power.

Another device designed to try and ignite failed engines was also switched off during the flight and Coroner John Pollard raised the possibility that they had been left off to save money.

Libyan authorities did not co-operate with air accident investigator Jeremey Barnett but he still completed an investigation which found the plane would not have run into trouble if the switches had been kept on.

Mr Pollard recorded an accidental death verdict on the four men and called for companies to think twice before using private jets instead of commercial planes.

Mr Walker is recovering at home in Walker Avenue, Great Lever, and was unavailable for comment.

Families of 24 victims and survivors are considering suing Sirte Oil.