Families of RAF Chinook crash victims urge Burnham for independent review
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is asked to meet within 100 days to address allegations of withheld information and a cover-up culture surrounding the 1994 disaster that killed 29 personnel.
The families of the 29 personnel killed in the 1994 RAF Chinook crash in Scotland have formally urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to order an independent review into the disaster. Represented by the Chinook Justice Campaign (CJC), the group is calling for an end to what it describes as a "cover-up culture" within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), alleging that vital information regarding the helicopter's airworthiness was withheld.
The campaign, comprising more than 55 family members of 25 of the victims, seeks a meeting with Burnham within his first 100 days in office to present new evidence. Matt Tobias, whose father Lt Col John Tobias was killed in the crash, stated that the families do not wish to pursue years of further litigation but instead view the request as a potential "test case" for the new Hillsborough law. This legislation, unanimously backed by MPs this month, establishes a legally enforceable duty of candour for public officials.
Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has endorsed the call for a fresh review, citing "deep concerns" that details provided by the MoD on the Chinook's airworthiness were incorrect. Fox, who ordered the previous official inquiry in 2011, said there was now a "strong enough belief" that a deliberate cover-up had taken place. The 2011 inquiry exonerated the two pilots initially blamed for the crash but did not determine the cause of the disaster.
The appeal follows a High Court ruling this month which determined that legal claims against the MoD were time-barred. While the CJC is considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights, Tobias emphasised that the families prefer an inquiry. He noted that Burnham’s previous speech in the House of Commons regarding the end of cover-up culture gave the families hope for transparency.
In response to the growing pressure, an MoD spokesperson expressed sympathy for the families and acknowledged the disappointment of the recent court judgment. The department confirmed that Defence Ministers have previously met with the CJC and stated it would continue to engage with the group to hear their concerns and discuss the matter.
