ON THIS DAY
02 June 1994: MI5 officers killed in helicopter crash. An RAF Chinook helicopter carrying more than 20 of Britain’s top intelligence experts has crashed on the Mull of Kintyre, killing everyone on board. An investigation is under way to find out why the aircraft – described by RAF officials as “state of the art” – came down during a routine flight from Belfast to Inverness, killing 29 people. The deaths of 25 senior police, army and MI5 officers – some of the most experienced intelligence experts in the country – were described by the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland as a “catastrophic loss in the fight against terrorism”. Three separate inquiries will be held, and questions are expected to be asked as to why so many senior staff were flying in the same aircraft. The Chinook crashed into a hillside near the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse in thick fog. The explosion scorched surrounding heather and gorse as the helicopter was turned into a huge fireball. The bodies of the dead are being taken to a temporary mortuary in Machrihanish air base. The full identification process is likely to continue until early next week. The RAF has maintained a fleet of more than 30 Chinook helicopters since 1980. They are used for transporting troops and equipment. The aircraft which crashed had recently been refitted. Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew insisted the Chinooks had a “remarkable” safety record. None of the remaining aircraft in the fleet is being grounded. As the investigation gets under way some RAF officers admitted the crash could have been caused by many things – pilot error, instrument failure, mechanical collapse, or even “birdstrike”. There are fears that an explanation may never be conclusively established. (Source: BBC)