On June 2, 1994, RAF Chinook ZD576 tragically crashed in fog while transporting 25 British intelligence personnel to a conference, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and four crew members.

Nearly 31 years later, bereaved families are calling for a public inquiry into this incident, expressing their desire for answers and the release of sealed documents.

The families assert they deserve transparency about the tragedy, particularly regarding documents sealed for 100 years by the Ministry of Defence, a fact highlighted in a recent BBC documentary.

Concerns about the airworthiness of the Chinook Mk2 helicopters were raised prior to the crash, with the MoD’s testing center declaring them unfit for flight.

Families believe that had they known the helicopter was unairworthy, their loved ones would have avoided the flight, leading to a life full of missed opportunities.

Andy Tobias, whose father was killed in the crash, described the situation as 'corporate manslaughter' and criticized the Ministry of Defence for its lack of transparency and delayed document release.

Initially, Flight Lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper were accused of gross negligence in relation to the crash, but this judgment was overturned 17 years later due to persistent family campaigns.

The Chinook Justice Campaign, representing the families, formally requested a public inquiry in October 2024, but this request was rejected by Veterans Minister Alistair Carns in December 2024.

While the Ministry of Defence acknowledged the tragedy of the crash and extended condolences to the families, it has not committed to releasing the sealed documents or engaging with the families to address their concerns.

This crash remains one of the RAF's worst peacetime losses, involving personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the British Army.

Relatives have expressed their frustration with the government's lack of response, emphasizing the emotional toll of losing loved ones who could have lived longer lives had they known about the helicopter's unairworthy status.