Court hearing over helicopter black box

Scotland's top lawyer is in court today, to try and get hold of the black box recorder from a fatal North Sea helicopter crash.

Published 19th May 2015

A legal battle over a North Sea helicopter crash is being heard in court today in what could become a landmark case.

It's almost 2 years now since four people died when their chopper ditched in the sea off Shetland.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has already looked into what happened - but now the Lord Advocate Frank Mullholland wants them to release the black box voice recorder for his own investigation.

He wants to know if anyone can be held legally responsible for what happened.

It's an unusual move, and the device can be released if the Court of Session thinks it's in the public interest.

But there are concerns that this decision could affect the way these kinds of accidents are investigated in the future.