New investigation into RAF Chinook helicopter crash ruled out
Saturday, 13 May 2000 15:18The British Ministry of Defence has said it will not be re-opening its investigation into the crash of an RAF Chinook helicopter at the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland six years ago, in which 29 people including 10 RUC Special Branch members and a number of senior intelligence officers were killed. The aircraft had been on a flight from RAF Aldergrove to a destination in Scotland, apparently taking the passengers to a top-level conference on security in June 1994.
A leaked report written by aeronautical experts in Britain concluded that the RAF's verdict that the crash had been caused by the gross negligence of the two pilots was not sustainable. It highlighted four possible aircraft problems which could have caused the accident.
A Defence Ministry spokesman said there was nothing new in the report by aviation experts. He said the paper, prepared by three retired pilots, had not been endorsed by the Royal Aeronautical Society. He said a thorough investigation into the crash had already been carried out by the statutory Board of Inquiry.
