Fresh inquiry into 1994 Chinook crash

Published on 16/09/2010 17:58

A RETIRED judge will lead a new independent inquiry into the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash as families of the two RAF pilots continue to press for their sons' names to be cleared.

Lord Philip, a former Lord of Session, is to be joined on the panel by former Scottish secretaries Lord Forsyth and Baroness Lidell, and veteran LibDem MP Malcolm Bruce to review the evidence on the crash in fog that killed 29, many of them intelligence experts working in Northern Ireland.

A board of inquiry blamed pilot error by Flight Lieutenants Jonathan Tapper, 28, and Rick Cook, 30, who both died.

Despite three further inquiries having cleared the two pilots of blame, and questions being raised over upgrades for Chinooks, the MoD has not reversed the findings.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said that he was pleased to be fulfilling a commitment the Conservative Party had made in opposition.