Former Squadron Leader Robert Burke, whose evidence helped to clear the pilots wrongly blamed for the crash, exposed serious airworthiness failures about the helicopter and spent decades challenging the Ministry of Defence, has died aged 86
Robert Burke featured in the BBC Documentary in 2024 which sparked renewed calls for a fresh inquiry, independent of the Ministry of Defence - credit: BBC/Finepoint Films
The families of those killed in the 1994 RAF Chinook disaster have paid tribute to former RAF chief test pilot Robert Burke who was instrumental in uncovering airworthiness failings on the Chinook Mark 2 and was ordered by his superiors at the time to stop assisting the investigation into the crash.
He went on to become one of the most important figures in the families’ decades-long fight for justice.
Former Squadron Leader Robert Burke, from Hampshire, died on Monday 26th October following a short illness. He was 86.
A former Chinook test pilot, Robert played a crucial role in helping to clear the names of the two pilots wrongly blamed for the disaster, exposing serious concerns about the aircraft's airworthiness and challenging the Ministry of Defence's account of the crash.
He was instrumental in compiling a substantial dossier of technical evidence concerning the Chinook HC.2's lack of airworthiness and revealed to a BBC documentary aired in 2024 that the fatal mission was a "show flight" by the RAF to prove to the army that the aircraft was safe. It clearly wasn’t.
Susan Phoenix, who has campaigned for 32 years for the truth about the crash, said: "It is heartbreaking that Robert has died without seeing the MoD admit to the truth, but it makes us even more determined to get justice and a fresh inquiry independent of the MoD.
“He knew that vital questions remained unanswered and that the families deserved better, and he told us recently that he would do anything for the campaign to ensure we got to the truth.
“The greatest tribute we can pay him is to continue the fight and ensure the evidence he worked so tirelessly to uncover is finally, properly, examined and that the MoD stops marking its own homework. That’s why we hope that the Prime Minister agrees to meet us and will help us to carry Robert’s legacy forward.”
Susan Phoenix and Robert Burke photographed earlier this year
Robert’s evidence helped expose how the aircraft was cleared for operational service despite serious safety concerns, which is why the families continue to fight for a judge-led review, independent of the MoD.
In evidence to the House of Lords in October 2001, Robert revealed that he had been ordered to stop assisting the Air Accidents Investigation Branch following the crash and instructed "not to communicate with anyone about the accident".
Documents he shared showed how the aircraft had been cleared for operational flying against the advice of the military test establishment at Boscombe Down, where the most elite test pilots and test engineers said the helicopter was “positively dangerous” and not to be relied upon in any way whatsoever.
Speaking in the BBC documentary Chinook: Zulu Delta 576, broadcast in 2024, he said: "This aircraft had been cleared against the advice of Boscombe Down – the joint services test establishment – and it had been cleared by at least two senior Air Marshals for operational flying. So, it was obvious what was going to happen, and it did – there would be some kind of cover-up."
His evidence contributed to the long campaign which eventually led to the 2011 overturning of the finding of gross negligence against Flight Lieutenants Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook, who died alongside 27 passengers and crew when Chinook ZD576 crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on 2nd June 1994.
Chris Cook, who spent years campaigning to clear his brother’s name, said: “Robert was an officer of great integrity and professionalism. When he retired and courageously stepped forward to support the Chinook Pilots’ campaign for justice, he brought forward clear evidence that proved, more than ever, how unjust the accusations of gross negligence were.
“His knowledge, experience and witness testimony were critical in the long campaign to clear the pilots’ names, achieving success, no question! Both the Cook and Tapper families can never thank Robert enough.”
Robert and Chris Cook, brother of pilot Rick Cook pictured in 2026
But Robert never regarded the exoneration of the pilots as the end of the matter. He continued to assist the bereaved families in their efforts to establish why an aircraft with such serious airworthiness concerns had been permitted to fly.
More than 30 years after the disaster, his testimony was cited in the families' High Court legal challenge calling for a fresh, independent investigation into the crash.
Former BBC correspondent Tim Reid, spokesperson for the Chinook Justice Campaign, said: "Robert's death is a huge and terrible loss to the families and to everyone who has fought for the truth about this disaster.
"His knowledge of the Chinook and the circumstances of the crash was second to none. He was an outstanding champion of the truth, an incredible character and a man of extraordinary courage and determination.
"He had the strength to stand up to the Ministry of Defence time and time again, challenging its lack of transparency and its repeated failure to tell the families the full truth about what happened to their loved ones. His death leaves an enormous hole in our campaign.”
Retired RAF Wing Commander Bill Southcombe, one of Robert’s closest friends and a former colleague flying the Vulcan aircraft, said: "Robert was an exceptional man, and a wonderful swashbuckling character, who was the life and soul of every party, but who also spoke truth to power and, as we know, was not intimidated by his superiors. He was fearless, extraordinarily knowledgeable and utterly committed to the truth. We have lost not just an expert, but a dear friend."
Robert's death follows the loss earlier this year of aeronautical engineer David Hill, another leading expert who spent years examining the Chinook's airworthiness failures and challenging the official account of the disaster, and the eldest campaigner John Dockerty, 96, whose son Chris died in the crash.
Nicola Rawcliffe, daughter of John Dockerty and brother of Chris, from Diss, Norfolk, said: “Robert has been a lynchpin of our campaign over three decades. We cannot pay tribute to him highly enough and we cannot believe another campaigner and source of truth has died this year. The MoD thinks it can keep the truth hidden until we all die off, but that won't happen.
“While his death is another devastating blow to the campaign, we will fight on until we get justice in tribute to him, to David Hill and my father and to keep their legacies alive."
The families are urging people to join more than 50,000 others who have signed their petition at change.org/JusticeForThe29 to encourage the Prime Minister to meet the families and order a fresh review - independent of the MoD.