𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Furious families of the 29 service personnel killed in the RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre have accused Keir Starmer and the Ministry of Defence of ‘dismissive, dishonest and deceitful’ treatment.

The families of those killed have written to the Prime Minister after comments made by ministers, which they say contradict promises made to them last year. In the letter sent to Downing Street today, they write: “After 31 years, Ministers met with us last December. They looked us in the eye, acknowledged the service of our loved ones, and assured us that the evidence we presented would be properly considered. Those assurances now ring hollow.”

It comes after the Ministry of Defence issued a statement to the media claiming that “there has not been evidence presented which would shed significant new light on the cause of the crash”.

Families say the statement to the Yorkshire Post, issued without warning, represents a “slap in the face” to them as victims of the disaster, and is the exact opposite of the “ongoing dialogue” they were promised.

The statement was also issued less than 48 hours after families met the victims minister to raise formal concerns about the Ministry of Defence’s continued use of what they describe as misleading and distressing language.

Twenty-five intelligence experts and four special forces crew were killed when the Chinook helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre, en route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness, in June 1994.

The incident was initially blamed on pilot error before this was overturned in 2011. The families have long called for a public inquiry into the incident, following the uncovering of numerous safety concerns in the weeks and months before the flight.

Jenni Balmer-Hornby, whose father Anthony was one of those killed, said: “You have got to be kidding us. We sat down with three Defence Ministers for the first time in 31 years and were promised that our evidence would be properly reviewed and that there would be ongoing dialogue.

“Instead, we get a statement to the media, not to us, repeating the very language we had just formally complained about. It is worryingly dismissive of us as victims, is deceitful and dishonest, it’s a slap in the face for all of us and shows a complete lack of respect.

“To issue that statement within 48 hours of our meeting with the victims minister is not just disappointing, it is unfair, unacceptable and unfathomable.”

The families argue that while ministers are advancing legislation designed to prevent institutional cover-ups, the continued handling of the Chinook case suggests those principles are not being applied in practice.

They are now calling on the Prime Minister to intervene directly to ensure that their evidence is properly considered and that meaningful dialogue takes place.

Susan Phoenix, whose husband Ian was killed, added: “Ministers know full well this is not about the cause of the crash. We have said that repeatedly. This is about the circumstances, the decisions that were taken, and why our loved ones were allowed to board an aircraft we have evidence was not airworthy.

“To continue to misrepresent our position in this way feels deliberate and deeply disrespectful.”

An RAF spokesperson said: “The Chinook Justice Campaign have submitted a formal claim to the MOD for a Judicial Review of our decision to reject the demand for a judge-led inquiry into the circumstances of the crash.

“This process is ongoing and our focus is on responding to that claim and to the allegations contained within it. We are unable to comment further at this time.”