Question:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to preserve the records relating to the crash of the RAF Chinook helicopter on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June 1994; and where those records are currently archived. (211684) Tabled on: 23 January 2019
Answer:Mr Tobias Ellwood:Ministry of Defence (MOD) records that were closed in 1995 and 1996 will be reviewed for release or alternative disposal this year. These reviews have not been completed, and a decision will be made in due course.The records relating to the crash of the RAF Chinook helicopter on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June 1994 are currently archived with the MOD's Air Historical Branch (RAF) at RAF Northolt. The answer was submitted on 28 Jan 2019 at 17:37.
That is, crucial papers from 1993 and 1994 have already been reviewed and, judging from what was released a month ago, not much remains. It is well-known that MoD denies the stuff from Sept/Oct 1993 exists, yet (probably inadvertently) quoted it in a Ministerial briefing some years ago. The part of the airworthiness audit trail where Controller Aircraft (Spiers) told the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Bagnall) that he was not permitted to issue a Release to Service, but did. Thereby making a false declaration to aircrew (and passengers). See Philip Report, para 2.2.8. Hopefully the follow-up papers from Air Marshal Austin won't be destroyed this year. Ah, Austin, another name that emerged late in the day and has never been interviewed. Or perhaps he was, but those papers remain hidden....