Sister of Clutha pilot hits out at decision not to bring charges
THE sister of Clutha Vaults helicopter crash pilot David Traill has condemned a decision not to bring criminal charges.
Evelyn Mitchell claimed there had not been a ‘proper investigation’ into the tragedy four years ago in which ten people died.
On Friday it emerged that a major probe into the incident is to be held next year, but prosecutors have ruled there is ‘insufficient evidence’ for criminal proceedings.
Mr Traill and crew PC Tony Collins and PC Kirsty Nelis were killed, while seven customers of the Glasgow bar – John McGarrigle, Mark O’Prey, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins, Samuel McGhee and Joe Cusker – also died.
An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit.
But Mrs Mitchell has said he was made a ‘scapegoat’ and has carried out her own inquiries into the reasons for the 2013 tragedy.
She told the Mail: ‘There hasn’t been a proper investigation, has there, really?
‘I don’t think there was any chance of criminal charges being brought. We are still waiting for the full investigation, there are still lots of bits missing from it, unfortunately.’
Last year First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was ‘very concerned’ by claims the AAIB report wrongly shifted the blame from mechanical failures to the pilot.
An earlier draft version of the report found that a leak of water into the fuel tank resulted in a false high or full fuel reading, so Mr Traill thought fuel was going into the tank when it was not.
It was issued to ‘interested parties’, including Police Scotland and operator Bond Air Services, six months before the final version concluded Mr Traill did not follow emergency procedures after fuel warnings sounded.
There were reports last year that the changes to the draft report formed a major part of Police Scotland inquiries.
Calling for a ‘full independent inquiry’, Mrs Mitchell said: ‘I just want them to prove that my brother wasn’t at fault, that’s all that’s of interest.
‘All you have to do is go by the balance of probabilities. We have a helicopter with a history of failure in the fuel gauge and we have a pilot with a history that’s absolutely impeccable.’
Last year Mrs Mitchell said two investigators were carrying out a probe of the evidence for her and had concluded that the crash was caused by a ‘mechanical issue’.
On her continuing fight for justice, she added: ‘I’m doing everything in my power to make sure that happens, everything.
‘These people are in grief. It’s unexplained and they’re still waiting for closure.’
Earlier this month, damages were awarded to people injured in the crash and relatives of those killed.
A reported £1.3million was paid by Babcock, which owns the helicopter operator, to ten people injured, while cases brought by 16 others affected were settled for undisclosed amounts.
A Crown Office spokesman said last week that ‘the investigation has reached a significant stage and Crown Counsel have formally instructed a fatal accident inquiry to be held’.
‘Waiting for the full investigation’