The grieving families of the 1994 RAF Chinook helicopter disaster have launched a landmark legal battle against the Ministry of Defence, demanding a fresh inquiry into the tragedy that claimed 29 lives.
A Decades-Long Fight for Justice
For thirty years, relatives of the victims have fought to clear the names of the two pilots, Flight Lieutenants Jonathan Tapper and Rick Cook, who were wrongly accused of gross negligence by a controversial RAF board of inquiry. The HC-ZD576 Chinook Mk2 crashed into the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland on June 2, 1994, killing all on board, including senior intelligence experts travelling from Northern Ireland.
New Evidence Ignited Legal Challenge
The families, represented by renowned human rights lawyer Jason McCue, are seeking a judicial review. They argue that the MoD has unlawfully refused to open a new inquiry despite the emergence of significant new evidence. This evidence, they claim, points to technical and systemic failures—not pilot error—as the true cause of the crash.
This new material includes:
- Previously unseen documentation from Boeing, the aircraft's manufacturer.
- Fresh technical analysis challenging the original RAF findings.
- Evidence suggesting known software issues with the aircraft's FADEC system.
A Final Plea for the Truth
Michael Tapper, father of pilot Jonathan Tapper, stated the fight has consumed their lives for three decades. The families hope the court will compel the MoD to finally establish an independent review panel, similar to the one used for the Hillsborough disaster, to uncover the truth once and for all and absolve the pilots of blame.
The Ministry of Defence maintains its position, stating it has no new evidence that would justify another review. The outcome of this court bid could finally bring closure to one of the UK's most enduring military aviation controversies.
