Letter: Questions still asked over the Chinook crash
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It Is not correct that the Defence Committee "rejected" a call for a new inquiry into the Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994 ("It's still easier to blame a dead pilot", 7 December). The committee decided that it would not itself attempt to reopen an inquiry but this was not a judgement on the decisions of the inquiries that have already reported. The committee did conclude that there were wider questions raised by the circumstances of the crash and I wrote to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 5 December setting out the committee's concerns. These are some of the points raised:
1. Reliability: what consideration has the MoD given to wider questions of the reliability of the type of aircraft involved in the crash? In particular has the MoD raised with the manufacturers of the aircraft (or any suppliers of equipment or software) questions of reliability? Have pilots raised concerns about the safety of this type of aircraft or its equipment?
2. Findings of negligence: what is the MoD's doctrine and practice in reaching findings of error of judgement and negligence against pilots who have died in aircraft crashes? What steps have been taken to meet the concerns expressed by families of the pilots killed in the Chinook crash about the ways in which the findings of the inquiry were reached?
Bruce George MP
Chairman, Defence Committee
House of Commons
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments