Families of the 29 people killed in the 1994 RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre have formally requested that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham conduct a fresh independent review of the disaster. The Chinook ZD576 crashed into a hillside on the Scottish peninsula on June 2, 1994, killing all 25 passengers and four crew members, including senior Northern Ireland intelligence officers and members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Long-standing campaign for justice
The families have long contested the official finding that the pilots, Flight Lieutenants Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook, were grossly negligent. They argue that mechanical failure or other factors may have caused the crash. Despite multiple inquiries, including a 2011 House of Commons public accounts committee report that criticized the original negligence finding, the families have not received a full independent review. In a letter to Burnham, they cited his record on campaigning for justice and transparency, as well as his legal background, as reasons for their request.
Burnham's previous involvement
Andy Burnham, a former Labour MP and now Mayor of Greater Manchester, has previously expressed sympathy for the families. In 2019, he said he believed the pilots had been wrongly blamed. The families hope he will use his influence to pressure the government to agree to a fresh review. A spokesperson for Burnham said he had received the letter and was considering the request carefully.
Government stance and family frustration
The Ministry of Defence has maintained that the original finding of negligence was correct, although it has acknowledged that the standard of proof used was lower than usual. The families have described this as a stain on the pilots' reputations and have called for a full public inquiry. The request to Burnham comes after years of legal battles and campaigns, including a petition to the Scottish Parliament. The families believe a review led by an independent figure like Burnham could provide the closure they have been denied for over three decades.
