Families of the 29 people killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre have announced they are taking legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for failing to order a public inquiry into the tragedy.
The RAF Chinook was carrying four crew and 25 passengers, many of whom were senior figures from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the British Army, when it crashed in dense fog on 2 June 1994. All on board were killed.
Relatives of the victims, who have formed the Chinook Justice Campaign, argue that the government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry breaches its obligations under the UK’s human rights framework. They are now seeking a judicial review in the High Court.
Calls for Sealed Documents to Be Released
The campaigners believe that crucial evidence was not properly considered in previous investigations and are calling for the release of documents that were classified for 100 years following the crash. The existence of the sealed files was revealed in a BBC documentary broadcast last year.
The families argue that new material, particularly concerning the airworthiness of the Chinook Mk2 helicopter, warrants independent scrutiny. They believe such a review would demonstrate systemic failings within the MoD that contributed to the disaster.
“The investigations conducted to date, whether considered individually or in combination, have failed to discharge the investigative duty,” the group stated in a letter to the government.
Aircraft ‘Should Never Have Taken Off’
Mark Stephens, the solicitor representing the families, claimed there was “a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards” and alleged that the passengers and crew were placed on an aircraft that was “known to be positively dangerous.”
“That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the government’s failure to hold a public inquiry, which the families have sought for more than a year,” he said.
The Chinook Mk2 was declared “unairworthy” by the MoD’s testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire prior to the crash. A subsequent review by Lord Philip also highlighted “numerous concerns” raised by personnel involved in the Chinook programme.
Pilots Cleared of Blame
Initially, RAF pilots Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Tapper and Flight Lieutenant Richard Cook were accused of gross negligence. However, this finding was officially overturned by the UK Government 17 years later, following years of pressure from aviation experts and campaigners.
The families maintain that the original accusations diverted attention from deeper systemic issues relating to aircraft safety and government oversight.
‘What Is Being Hidden?’
Esme Sparks, who was just seven when her father, Major Gary Sparks, died in the crash, spoke on behalf of the next generation of families affected.
“We don’t want to have to take legal action against the government and MoD,” she said. “But we do want and need answers. Who made the decision to let this helicopter take off? What is being hidden? In our view, a public inquiry is key.”
MoD Response
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson expressed sympathy for the victims’ families but defended the current handling of the case:
“The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.”
The MoD added that the documents held at The National Archives contain personal data, and releasing them before the designated date would breach data protection laws
