Watford brothers demand answers over 1994 Chinook crash as families campaign for public inquiry
John Tobias’s sons are among those calling for government action after the tragedy.
Brothers Andy and Matt Tobias from Watford will be among those handing in a petition to Downing Street today, as families of victims of the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash continue to press for a public inquiry.
Their father, John Tobias, was among the 29 people killed when a Chinook helicopter came down on the Mull of Kintyre on 2nd June 1994, en route from RAF Aldergrove to Fort George near Inverness.
Search for answers continues
The petition, part of the Chinook Justice Campaign, has been signed by more than 47,000 people and calls on the government to launch a judge-led public inquiry into the disaster.
Families have compiled a list of 110 “critical questions” about the crash, including who authorised the mission, why that aircraft was chosen, and whether people on board were warned about any risks. They say key documents about the tragedy have been sealed until 2094 and argue that a lack of answers continues to undermine trust in the Ministry of Defence and the government.
The campaign’s technical expert, David Hill, said: “For the families, the refusal to grant a public inquiry, coupled with the decision to seal key documents until 2094, is a betrayal by the state of them and their loved ones. Continuing secrecy undermines trust not only in the MoD but in the Government itself.”
Push for government response
Relatives are set to deliver the petition and a letter to the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday. Jenni Balmer-Hornby, whose father Anthony Hornby was also killed in the crash, said: “Every time the Ministry of Defence says there is nothing new to uncover, we can now point to 110 very specific, very serious questions that have never been answered. These questions are not speculation – they are based on evidence that was withheld, ignored or misrepresented to previous inquiries.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence repeated that six inquiries have already been held: “The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died. Our focus is on responding to the Chinook Justice Campaign’s claim and to the allegations contained within it and we are unable to comment further at this time.”