Originally Posted by
Hebog
The main question is have the police been provided with the aircraft records so that they may look at these and gather evidence or are these now not available to them. Why can't the police have the actual maintenance records and flight test data direct from the maintenance companies. They should also have access to the aircraft if required, after all how are they to obtain evidence if they aren't able to do this. Obviously they will need to employ specialists to help them as I doubt anyone in the police force will be a qualified aircraft engineer or a fast jet pilot with the relevant experience on type.
When a road-vehicle collision occurs, the police are the investigating and prosecuting authority as they control whether a vehicle is roadworthy and whether the driver has committed any driving offences.
I don't believe that the police have any authority over the airworthiness of an aircraft.
I'm not sure how much influence they have whether the pilot has broken any aviation laws - who prosecutes a pilot who attempts to fly with too much alcohol? Who administers the breathalyser?
As has been pointed out there are over-riding rules about endangering the public, but they have to obtain evidence - which might be obvious when there has been a crash - but the AAIB are the ones who will have first dibs on the wreckage.