PM urged to intervene over helicopter disaster

A Huddersfield man whose father was killed when an RAF helicopter crashed in Scotland in 1994 has called on the prime minister to support a new independent inquiry into the disaster.

The crash on the Mull of Kintyre killed 25 intelligence experts and four special forces crew, including RUC officer Det Ch Supt Maurice McLaughlin Neilly.

The victims' families challenged Andy Burnham to meet with them within his first 100 days in office - which he will reach next week.

Neilly's son Darren, who was 13 at the time, called on the prime minister to promote an independent inquiry to "give us the answers that we need for justice", adding: "I believe that Andy Burnham will come through for us."

The Chinook was en route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness when it went down, killing everyone on board.

The crash was initially blamed on pilot error, a finding that was overturned in 2011.

Documents relating to the 1994 crash were sealed for 100 years by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to protect personal data.

But the families of those killed have campaigned for judge-led reviews and public inquiries looking into exactly what happened.

Last year, they visited Downing Street to deliver a petition asking for a fresh, independent review saying previous inquiries never had access to the important documents.

In October 2025, the Chinook Justice Campaign released 110 "critical questions" about the tragedy, and presented a petition containing more than 47,000 signatures.

Members said they would "see the UK government in court" after then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected calls for a judge-led inquiry.

Sir Keir had said that a public inquiry would not "bring any greater certainty" and would not be "in the public interest".

The families brought a legal challenge against the MoD to the High Court, but a judge ruled in July this year it would not be allowed to proceed as it had been brought too late.

Burnham referenced the campaign in Parliament shortly after becoming an MP when discussing the Hillsborough Law, telling the Commons: "We need to recognise these campaigns in the House tonight as we do the Chinook families."

Neilly said he had "great memories of my dad", adding he was a "family man dedicated to his job, a very unique job and extraordinary individuals who did that job but he would spend a lot of time with us where he could".

Asked why he believed there was a need for a fresh inquiry, Neilly said: "The MoD have been allowed to ask questions that they know answers to, but not sharing that information.

"This is why it's not natural for this type of inquiry to have paper sealed away for 100 years.

"We're not looking for ourselves to be reading these documents.

"What we're looking for is an independent inquiry to review them, because there is substantial evidence that proves that this helicopter should never have been off the ground.

"It shouldn't have been used to transport these men. To call it an accident when it's known means it's not an accident.

"It's something that has been known and it has gone wrong and that's what we want Andy Burnham to promote for us is that independent inquiry away from the MoD to give us the answers that we need for justice but also peace for ourselves."

In a statement, the MoD said its "thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of those who died in the Mull of Kintyre crash".

It added: "Defence ministers have previously met with the Chinook Justice Campaign group, and we will continue to engage to hear concerns and discuss this important matter."

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