Chinook disaster families accuse MoD of “callous disregard” after FOI data breach illegally exposes highly sensitive and personal information
Living up to its name?
Lawyers lodge formal complaint as families warn of “further harm” to victims’ families caused by unlawful disclosure
Monday 11th May 2026
The families of those killed in the RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre have accused the Ministry of Defence of a “callous disregard” for their personal data after sensitive information was unlawfully released under Freedom of Information laws.
The material, which was disclosed to a media organisation following a commitment by defence minister Louise Sandher-Jones in the House of Commons in November, contains sensitive personal information relating to the bereaved families.
The Chinook Justice Campaign has now lodged a formal complaint demanding the Ministry of Defence refer itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office, and demanding an urgent explanation from ministers.
Lawyers for the families have also called for the relevant documents to be retracted and for all recipients to be notified that the personal data information contained should not be published or disclosed.
Leading human rights lawyer Mark Stephens, from Howard Kennedy LLP, acting for the families, said: “This represents a serious failure to protect the rights of families who have been deceived and lied to from day one.
“It shows a callous disregard for their personal information, has added trauma to a three-decade long fight for the truth and raises fundamental questions about the department’s handling of sensitive material.
“The Ministry of Defence must urgently explain how and why it placed personal information about bereaved families into the public domain without proper safeguards or due process or any discussion with those families.
“Once again, these families are being subjected to further harm through the unlawful disclosure of their personal information at a time when the MoD claims it is engaged in dialogue with them. That is completely and utterly unacceptable and they deserve a full and frank apology and an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, to which he has committed.”
The families say the breach is particularly distressing given the long history of their unhappy engagement with the Ministry of Defence and the deeply sensitive nature of the case and they question why, if documents were sealed for100-years for personal data reasons – as the MoD has repeatedly claimed - that these have been released now.
While the campaign has repeatedly called for the release of ALL documents related to the crash including those sealed for 100 years, they have also repeatedly suggested that any sensitive documents should be reviewed by a judge as part of a judge-led public inquiry.
In the House of Commons debate, veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones stated that some sealed documents were FOI-able – which is what triggered the media request from BFBS.
Chris Cook, whose brother Flight Lieutenant Rick Cook was killed and blamed for gross negligence before a campaign to clear him and fellow pilot Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Tapper, said: “For more than 30 years, our families have fought for truth and accountability. For 16 of those, we had to fight to clear Rick and Jon’s names.
“To now find that personal information has been exposed in this way is deeply distressing. It shows a complete lack of care for the families and the impact this crash and long fight for justice has had on all of us and is highly illustrative of the deceit and disregard we have all faced from day one.
“I had hoped that having been promised proper dialogue by MoD ministers that we would see a change of direction. But it’s the same old MoD up to its dirty tricks.”
Last month, the families wrote to the Prime Minister calling for an urgent intervention after the MoD told media organisations that “no new evidence” had been uncovered about the crash despite a thick dossier presented to ministers.
In the House of Commons two weeks ago, following a question from Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt, Sir Keir Starmer committed to further reviewing the case and a meeting.
Chris Cook added: “That meeting is more urgent than ever, and we would request the Prime Minister get a date in the diary as soon as possible.”
The release of the documents has prompted renewed demands for full transparency and a judge-led public inquiry, with families warning that they have been informed by senior government sources that further undisclosed material on the crash exists across government in several locations.
The Chinook Justice Campaign and a cross party group of MPs are now calling for the case to be treated as the one of the first tests of the proposed Hillsborough Law, which is intended to enforce a legal duty of candour on public authorities.