The head of the RAF says he will address “as a priority” a series of “legitimate questions” raised in the media over diversity targets in the air force, allegations of sexual harassment and bullying within the Red Arrows and concerns about military flying training.

In the first officially-released statement since reports about the controversies broke, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said any aviator who has a concern about activity within the service should raise it with their chain of command, alert a confidential helpline or tell the RAF police.

Two defence sources, however, dismissed the comments as weak, saying they appeared to be a sign of “backpedalling and buying time” following mounting criticism.

One source said: “It’s an appeasement policy, whilst clearly admitting that things have gone wrong.”

The second source added: “No apology that he has failed?… Why is he still so focused on diversity when we have p***** off personnel he’s struggling to retain?… Can’t believe he’s hiding behind this ridiculous reply.”

“Recent news coverage has addressed our values and standards, our culture and behaviours, and our determination to meet the MOD’s level of ambition for diversity,” Air Chief Marshal Wigston said in a message to his people, released by the Ministry of Defence on Thursday evening.

Air Chief Marshal Wigston said this would be the focus of a meeting of the Air Force Board of senior officers on 7 September.

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“As a leadership team, we are clear that unacceptable behaviours have no place in our service,” the air chief said.

“We also remain committed to increasing our diversity and I can confirm categorically that neither our operational effectiveness, nor the quality of our new entrants has suffered as a result of our attempts to widen our recruiting from across society.

“We continue to deliver against every operational task asked of us by the government; the RAF is deployed extensively, operationally active, and is indisputably lethal, and nothing in that regard has been or ever will be compromised by our drive to attract and recruit people from the widest pool of talent in the UK workforce.”

Three simultaneous crises have engulfed the Royal Air Force in as many weeks in a huge challenge for its leader.

The collection of woes – as revealed by Sky News – involve: the resignation of the head of RAF recruitment over an “unlawful” order to offer jobs to women and ethnic minorities over white men; claims of bullying misogyny and sexual harassment in the elite Red Arrows, and a revelation over the state of military flying training, with hundreds of pilots stuck in limbo for months, sometimes years.

Read more: Defence secretary orders audit of military flying training as RAF leadership in ‘tailspin’ over leaks

Air Chief Marshal Wigston, whose three-year stint as Chief of the Air Staff has been extended by a year to next summer, is alleged to believe there is a “concerted strategy” against him, sources said.

They noted that he would do better to consider the substance of the claims along with signs of poor morale among his people and waning confidence in him.

The head of the RAF, in his message, said: “You will be well aware of the ongoing focus on the Royal Air Force in the media and on social media, on a number of topics, over the past weeks.

“I am acutely conscious that the coverage affects us all – whether regular, reserve, civil servant, or contractor – as well as our families and loved ones; and there are legitimate questions being asked which I am determined we will address as a priority.”

He continued: “We play a critical role in the security and defence of the UK and our allies, and that is where our primary effort must always be. I would ask that commanders and line managers at all levels continue to support your teams, and to ensure nobody feels isolated or marginalised.

“It is essential now more than ever that we pull together and focus on our essential purpose: global air and space power to protect our nation.”

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