Families of RAF Chinook crash victims urge Andy Burnham to order fresh review

The families of those who died in the 1994 RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre in southwest Scotland have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to end Britain's "cover-up culture" and order an independent review. Twenty-nine military personnel were killed when the Chinook HC2 crashed during a flight from Northern Ireland. Initially, the pilots were blamed, but an inquiry in 2011 exonerated them without determining the cause.

Liam Fox, the former Conservative defence secretary who commissioned that review, said last month there were "deep concerns" that "vital information" could have been withheld. Fox supports calls for a fresh independent review, stating there is now a "strong enough belief" that a deliberate cover-up took place. He also questioned the accuracy of Ministry of Defence (MoD) information about the airworthiness of the crashed Chinook.

A High Court judge ruled this month that families of several victims could not bring a legal claim against the MoD because it was brought too late. The Chinook Justice Campaign (CJC), comprising over 55 family members of 25 victims, said it would take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Matt Tobias, whose father Lt Col John Tobias was killed, said the families "do not want years of further litigation" and urged the prime minister to meet with them within his first 100 days in office. "We can present the evidence that has emerged over recent years and explain why we believe a fresh review, independent of the Ministry of Defence, is now essential," he said.

In a letter to Burnham, the families said the case could be a "test case" for the new Hillsborough law, which was unanimously backed by MPs this month and creates a legally enforceable duty of candour during investigations.

An MoD spokesperson expressed sympathies and said defence ministers have previously met with the CJC and will continue to engage to hear concerns and discuss the matter.