Chinook families say ministers appear “surprised” by evidence presented to them about the 1994 Mull of Kintyre crash
Campaigners say government has “listened at last” as ministers commit to reviewing evidence and further engagement with families
16 December 2025
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE
The families of those killed in the 1994 RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre have said a long-awaited meeting with defence ministers was “constructive and serious” and say ministers appear “surprised” by evidence presented to them.
Representatives of the Chinook Justice Campaign met junior defence ministers today to present their case and to set out details of the lack of airworthiness on the helicopter which crashed, killing 25 senior intelligence experts and four Special Forces crew.
The families are seeking a judge-led public inquiry into the disaster and for all the files – some of which have been sealed for 100 years – to be released.
Family representatives say ministers listened carefully as they were taken through the leaked evidence and facts underpinning the case - and have welcomed a clear commitment from the government to review the evidence in full.
Andy Tobias, whose father John was killed, said: “The meeting was constructive. Ministers listened to us, engaged seriously, and we took them through our briefing pack and the evidence we hold.
“We now have a commitment that they will review all of this material in detail, which is welcome.”
Ministers also committed to ongoing engagement with the families, and indicated that a further meeting would take place following their review of the evidence. While no date was set, campaigners were told it would not be delayed for months.
However, the families say the discussion raised troubling questions about previous decision-making — particularly the government’s rejection, just months ago, of calls for a public inquiry on the basis that all evidence had already been reviewed.
“The strong impression we came away with was that some of the evidence we presented was new to them,” Tobias said.
“If that is the case, it raises a serious question: what evidence was actually reviewed when our request for a public inquiry was rejected?”
During the meeting, campaigners again explained the fundamental issue at the heart of the case — that Chinook ZD576 was not airworthy, and that this status was withheld from the crew and passengers.
Ministers asked detailed questions, including why two alternative Puma aircraft were not used for the flight to Fort George, reinforcing the families’ view that unresolved operational and safety questions remain.
The Chinook Justice Campaign stresses that, because ministers would not address substantive questions while legal proceedings continue, the families have no option but to pursue those proceedings to their conclusion.
“We knew going into the meeting that ministers would not be able to answer key questions while legal action is ongoing,” Tobias said. “That means the legal process must continue. But today’s discussion underlined just how compelling the evidence is — and why it must be examined openly and independently.”
The families have once again renewed their call for a meeting with the Prime Minister, arguing that only he can now resolve the matter by overturning the MoD’s decision not to hold a public inquiry.
Susan Phoenix, whose husband Ian was killed, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet ministers today, but we have repeatedly asked to meet the Prime Minister, and we continue to do so.
“If the evidence we presented today has not previously been reviewed, then we believe the Prime Minister must look at this personally and reconsider the decision to deny us a public inquiry.”
Mark Stephens, from Howard Kennedy LLP, lawyer for the families, said: “While we welcome this constructive meeting, we still have no commitment for a judge-led public inquiry which is why the families must continue to seek a Judicial Review into that decision.
“Ministers can still choose to do the right thing, avoid dragging the families through the courts, to release all the files and order a public inquiry into the 1994 crash – otherwise we will have to force them to do so.”
Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood, who represented cross party MPs at the meeting, added: “While a constructive meeting, we firmly believe that this case should be the test case for the government’s commitment to a duty of candour. Some of that was on show today – and we hope for a lot more.”
More than 31 years after the crash, the families say their aim remains unchanged: truth, accountability, and a transparent examination of how an aircraft with known safety issues was cleared to fly.
