From the UK Gardian newspaper (& similar in the Daily Telegraph)
Your report (
MoD knew of Chinook flaws before fatal crash, says father, 5 January) fails to report the
Ministry of Defence's reasons for upholding the
board of inquiry's findings into the Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash. We have always made clear that we would revisit the findings if new evidence was presented. Despite the efforts over many years of those campaigning to clear the pilots, including an exhaustive report submitted in 2008, no such evidence has ever been found. The computer software issues raised in
the documents obtained by the BBC were well known at the time and had been factored into the operating instructions. These issues were discounted in the context of this accident following a thorough independent assessment by the
Air Accident Investigation Branch. This led the board of inquiry to conclude – along with those who have reconsidered this over the years – that there was no evidence of technical failure which would have been a factor in the crash.
What was exposed, in a diligent and logical analysis, was that the pilots consciously breached their operating rules, thereby knowingly placing their aircraft, passengers, crew and themselves at risk. This was the basis for the gross negligence finding.
Des Browne's review was in response to the 2008 report, and concluded there was no new evidence and the original findings should stand.
The Chinook helicopter has a remarkable safety record and has proved a mainstay of recent operations. Aircraft losses are not always due to equipment failings and it is a disservice to our people, particularly those working heroically in
Afghanistan, to see a conspiracy behind every tragic loss.
Air Chief Marshal Stephen Dalton
Chief of the air staff