Tories vow to overturn Chinook verdict

In a Channel 4 News exclusive, the Tories have said they are prepared to overturn the "gross negligence" verdict against two RAF pilots who died in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash.

The Chinook crash in 1984 was the RAF's biggest peace time disaster.

It was the RAF's biggest ever peace-time disaster that killed 25 senior intelligence officers. Shadow home secretary David Davis told Channel Four News: "Tory Party policy on this is now clear. We will take the evidence that persuaded senior committees of the Commons and the Lords, and which persuaded a Sheriff in Scotland, to exonerate these pilots.

"We will then put that evidence in front of a High Court Judge and then we will abide by that judge's decision. In that way, justice will at last be done".

On June 2, 1994, Chinook Mk 2 ZD576 crashed into the Mull of Kintyre. An RAF Board of Inquiry ruled the two deceased pilots, Jonathan Tapper and Rick Cook, were guilty of "gross negligence" - equivalent to the civilian charge of manslaughter.

That verdict was reached despite the findings of a Scottish Fatal Accident Inquiry, which was unable to blame the pilots.

Since then, the RAF's verdict has also been challenged by inquiries conducted by the Commons Public Accounts Committee (which said the Ministry of Defence was guilty of "unwarrantable arrogance"), a specially-convened Lords Select Committee and an inquiry by the Royal Aeronautical Society - all of which pointed to serious defects in the software system controlling the Chinook's engines.

When asked why the RAF and the MOD still refuse to exonerate the deceased pilots, Mr Davis said: "Frankly, this is impossible to understand. Both the Secretary of State at the time of the crash, Malcolm Rifkind, and the Prime Minister of the day, John Major, have looked at the evidence after the event.

"They have both decided they were wrong, and they have changed their minds. I cannot understand why today's Labour government won't come to the same conclusion, and let justice be done for these deceased pilots".

News of the Conservatives' policy shift comes on the same day as the funeral of Capt John Cook - father of Rick Cook.

A former RAF pilot himself, Captain Cook has spent the last 10 years at the forefront of the campaign to clear the names of his son, and of Flt Lt Tapper.

His funeral, held at Winchfield, Hampshire, was attended by numerous members of the military and civilian air establishment. After the RAF, Capt Cook flew for British Airways - where he ended his career as a Concord Instructor.

Speaking outside the Church, Chris Cook, his son, who is also a pilot, said: "My father fought tirelessly, throughout his last 10 years, in a bid to overturn the disgraceful verdict against my brother, Rick, and Flt Lt Tapper.

"Sadly, we have now lost him. But the fight will go on. We will not stop here. We know we are right - there is no evidence to blame these dead pilots. We will continue to campaign for justice, with more vigour, because my father has gone".

Now that the Conservatives have shifted their policy on this crash, senior party insiders have indicated opposition day debates may be used to raise in Paraliament the question of why the government and the Ministry of Defence have ignored the findings of two senior Parliamentary Inquiries.