The families of those killed in an RAF helicopter crash have told the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that they will see them in court. The 1994 RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre killed all 29 people on board, including 25 of the UK’s most senior intelligence experts and four Special Forces crew.
Last week, relatives of those killed condemned a decision by the MOD to reject their demands for a public inquiry and to give access to files which have been sealed for 100 years. Nicola Rawcliffe, whose brother Major Christopher Dockerty was killed in the crash, said: “I am furious and disgusted with the MOD’s decision to summarily dismiss our claim. The MOD is continuing to deceive our families and disrespect our loved ones’ memories by claiming that the many previous inquiries investigated all the facts, but we now know the aircraft was not airworthy.
“They didn’t know half of what we know now.
“My brother was only 33 years old. He gave his life in service of his country, and all we have had in return is dishonesty, deception and disdain from the Ministry of Defence. All this week, ministers have expressed their pride in those serving their country, but they seem willing to hide the truth about those who died in service.
“The Government may have sealed the files for 100 years, but we, the families of those who died, are firmly united, strong and defiant, and we will get to the truth, no matter what it takes.”
Crash families now say that they will seek a Judicial Review at the High Court into the Government’s failure and refusal to order a judge-led public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
RAF Chinook ZD576 crashed en route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George in Scotland, but evidence has emerged since that the aircraft was not airworthy and had been grounded the day before the crash.
Andy Tobias, who was only 8 when his father, Lt Col John Tobias, 41, was killed, said: “My childhood was stolen from me because someone decided my Dad and his colleagues should be put on a helicopter that was not fit for purpose.
“The MOD had a duty of care to those on board, and they failed that catastrophically by making them fly in an unairworthy aircraft with well-known and documented issues, and by doing so, they stole their right to life.
“My mum, my brother, I and all the families deserve the truth and the MOD must repay the honour and integrity that those on board had shown in their years of service to their country. That’s why we formed the Chinook Justice Campaign, and we will not rest until we get the truth. If that takes a judge to rule in court, then so be it.”
The helicopter was carrying 25 British intelligence personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British Army. The two pilots were both United Kingdom Special Forces pilots, and the entire crew had exemplary service records – yet it took 17 years to clear the pilots’ names after they were wrongly accused of “gross negligence.”
