1994 Chinook crash

Back in 1994, a Chinook helicopter, flying from Northern Ireland to Scotland, crashed on the Mull of Kintyre killing all 29 people aboard. Of these 29, it was said that 25 of them of were the UK's most senior intelligence experts on the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland. The crash was blamed on pilot error but in the last few days, it has emerged that 'leaked evidence' suggests that the helicopter may not have been airworthy. The Ministry of Defence in its inimitable way rejects this and says it will not open a new inquiry.

Fair enough, who am I to know?

But three questions stick in my head from that day to this:

Why were so many Northern Irish top brass flying to Scotland anyway? If they needed a conference then why not fly others into Northern Ireland? Internet gossip suggests they were flying for a round of golf. I found that quite plausible.

Why not use a private jet? They are faster and fly above the weather most of the time. Now this would fit with the golf trip theory for the cost of the jet would have shown up and have to be justified.

Why were 25 of the top brass collected together on the same flight? I find this the most reprehensible of all. 20 years before this incident, my employer, Lucas Industries, had a policy that no more than 3 senior executives could take the same flight on the principle that in the event of an accident, you could seriously damage the effectiveness of a section of the company. I adopted the same principle when I was in charge at AB.

So 29 died in that crash. You have to wonder how many more died in Northern Ireland given the damage this must have done to our intelligence gathering.