Chinook crash pilots cleared

Two helicopter pilots blamed by the RAF for one of the worst accidents in its recent history, in which 29 were killed, were today cleared by a Lords inquiry

The Chinook helicopter piloted by Flight Lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper, with 25 Northern Ireland intelligence officers aboard, crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in bad weather on 2 June 1994.

An RAF inquiry accused the pilots of "gross negligence". The men, experienced at special forces operations, were thought to have been flying too low.

For six years the pilots' families have fought to clear their names and today marks an important victory. Their cause was taken up by Lord Chalfont, a former soldier and Labour Defence Minister, and he instigated the Lords inquiry.

The committee, headed by Appeal judge Lord Jauncey, reports today: "In the light of all the evidence before us we unanimously conclude that the reviewing officers were not justified in finding that negligence on the part of the pilots caused the aircraft to crash."

However, Downing Street claimed today's report provided no new evidence and that the military Board of Inquiry had reached an "honest" conclusion. Tony Blair's official spokesman said: "Everybody understands that the detailed technical, legal and airmanship issues here are very complex and we will want to study this report in detail and give a response to it.

"The Board of Inquiry ... decided this was gross negligence. It was their duty to reach an honest verdict based on the evidence and that is what they did. I am not aware there is any new evidence which has come to light and that remains the Government's view at the moment."

Supporters of the pilots have pointed to problems with the software for the engine computer, which had been newly introduced to the twin-rotor Chinook.

Several inquiries were given evidence about reported problems with the Fadec system. It was said that the pilots, before taking off for Inverness, had requested a change of aircraft to one without Fadec.

They were told no other aircraft was available and the only one they could take was the Chinook, code number ZD576. Maker Boeing gave evidence that the pilots had taken emergency action when they realised they were less than one nautical mile from the coast. They had put the helicopter into a climb at near maximum speed, 175 knots.

However, the Lords' committee disputes Boeing's evidence. The committee also questions the experience of officers involved in the early stages of the accident inquiry. It says that Squadron Leader Andy Fulford had never conducted a similar inquiry.

Now Group Captain Fulford, he is the highly respected commander of the main Chinook station. Today's finding could release a torrent of compensation claims against cases of equipment failure throughout the armed forces.