Graham and Trish Knight, whose son Ben, 25, died in the crash in September 2006, said they had entered talks with lawyers in London.

Earlier this year, a coroner ruled that the entire RAF fleet of Nimrod aircraft had never been airworthy and should be grounded.

Mr Knight said: "We have been in touch with solicitors in London with regards to taking legal action against the MoD for my son's death.

"The talks are at a preliminary stage.

"Had this been a bus company and the vehicle had been un-worthy then legal action would have been taken, if not by the families, then by the Crown Prosecution Service.

"In our case however, nothing seems to have been done.

"There have been no charges and nobody has been brought to blame for it.

"I feel that the Ministry of Defence is not beyond the law."

Barrister John Cooper confirmed that he was instructing Mr Knight as well as families of some of the other men who died in the crash. He added: "We are considering a wide range of legal options in this matter."