Families of the 29 military personnel who died in the 1994 RAF Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to initiate an independent review into the disaster. The call comes as they seek to challenge what they describe as Britain's 'cover-up culture' and secure a fresh, impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Chinook HC2 helicopter crashed in south-west Scotland during a flight from Northern Ireland. Initially, the two pilots were held responsible for the accident. However, a subsequent inquiry in 2011 exonerated them, though it failed to definitively determine the cause of the crash. This lack of a conclusive explanation has fuelled persistent concerns among the victims' relatives.
Former Conservative Defence Secretary Liam Fox, who ordered the 2011 official review, has publicly supported the families' demands. Last month, Fox expressed 'deep concerns' that 'vital information' might have been withheld and stated there was a 'strong enough belief' that a deliberate cover-up had occurred. He also highlighted worries that details provided by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding the Chinook's airworthiness might have been inaccurate.
The Chinook Justice Campaign (CJC), representing over 55 family members of 25 victims, recently faced a setback when a High Court judge ruled their legal claim against the MoD was brought too late. Despite this, the CJC has indicated it will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights. However, Matt Tobias, whose father, Lt Col John Tobias, died in the crash, stressed that the families 'do not want years of further litigation' and are instead appealing directly to the Prime Minister for help.
Tobias has requested a meeting with Mr Burnham within his first 100 days in office to present new evidence and explain why an independent review, separate from the MoD, is now considered essential. The families believe Mr Burnham's recent speech in the House of Commons, which addressed ending Britain's 'cover-up culture' and strengthening the duty of candour, offers them renewed hope. They have also suggested in a letter to the Prime Minister that their case could serve as a 'test case' for the new Hillsborough law, which received unanimous parliamentary backing this month and imposes a legal duty of transparency on public officials during investigations.
An MoD spokesperson reiterated their sympathies for those affected by the Mull of Kintyre crash and acknowledged the recent court judgment would be disappointing for the families. They stated that Defence Ministers have previously met with the CJC and would continue to engage to hear concerns and discuss the matter.