Sister of Clutha pilot vows to '˜clear his name'

The sister of the Clutha helicopter pilot who was criticised for breaching safety guidelines has launched her own investigation into the tragedy in a bid to clear her brother's name.

Helicopter being removed from the Clutha pub. Picture: SWNS

Evelyn Mitchell said she was “upset” by the idea that her brother, David Traill, an experienced pilot and former RAF flight lieutenant, was responsible for the crash in which he and nine others died when his police helicopter fell “like a stone” onto the Clutha bar in Glasgow in 2013.

An Air Accident Investigation Branch report found that Mr Traill had breached strict safety guidelines by failing to land the Eurocopter EC135 within ten minutes of a low fuel warning.

Mrs Mitchell called the suggestion her brother had ignored the warnings “ridiculous” and said that initial inquiries carried out by her investigators point to mechanical failure.

She wants to complete her investigation ahead of a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Clutha deaths to avoid her brother becoming a “scapegoat”.

The Crown Office declined to comment on the independent inquiries.