I do wish the minority would do the vast majority the courtesy of reading the facts before launching into speculation and denigrating the pilots.
There is a reason why Lord Philip recommended the setting aside of the gross negligence findings, and Government and MoD rolled belly up.
On 2 June 1994, the Chinook HC Mk2 had a ground training and familiarisation clearance only, and was ‘not to be relied upon in any way whatsoever’. Lord Philip confirmed this was ‘mandated’ upon the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. (MoK Review report, para 2.5.8). MoD finally conceded this, in writing, on 28 February 2012.
The question which MoD will not answer is, why did AVM Anthony Bagnall ignore this mandate and release the Mk2 to service? Who else was involved? MoD has named only one other - Controller Aircraft, who issued the mandate to Bagnall. Most would think that unlikely, and it is not the only time he has been fingered by the same people who then spent years defending the decision to blame the pilots, and continue to brief against them to the media. Controller Aircraft has never lowered himself to their level; and nor has his successor who was in post in June 1994.
That is why the historical papers are so important.
Please think about these facts before posting.