Pilot to be represented at Clutha crash inquiry
THE pilot who flew the helicopter and handed it over to Captain David Traill on the day it crashed into the Clutha pub will be represented at the fatal accident inquiry.
A hearing took place at Glasgow Sheriff Court to allow anyone with an interest to apply to participate, who had not already given notice by the Procurator Fiscal.
Ten people died and 31 others were injured when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the Glasgow pub on 29 November 2013.
The helicopter crew who were killed in the crash were pilot David Traill, PC Tony Collins and PC Kirsty Nelis.
Customers John McGarrigle, Mark O’Prey, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins, Samuel McGhee and Joe Cusker also died.
Advocate Jennifer Bain, who represented David Young at the hearing, made submissions why he should be a part of the inquiry, including that he was the day shift pilot of the helicopter on the day of the crash.
She said Mr Young handed the aircraft over to Captain Traill on the day of the incident and that he interrupted an engineer carrying out a compressor wash, during a pre-flight inspection, to respond to a missing person report.
Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull granted the application for Mr Young to participate.
He also granted the application made on behalf of Ian O’Prey, the father of Mark O’Prey.
Miss Bain said Mr Young was the day shift pilot on the helicopter on November 29, 2013.
The inquiry will formally begin at Hampden Park next April. The first preliminary hearing will be held at the stadium next month.