Fatal accident inquiry into the Clutha helicopter disaster will start next April
A FATAL accident inquiry into the Clutha helicopter tragedy will begin next April, the Crown Office has announced.
Ten people died when a police helicopter crashed on to the roof of the
Clutha pub in Glasgow in November 2013, including pilot David Traill and crew constables Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis.
The inquiry will take place at Hampden Park, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 3.
It was announced last November a fatal accident inquiry would be held, with some victims’ families critical of the time taken for a decision to be made.
An Air Accidents Investigation Branch 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.
The Crown Office has previously stated there is insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings.
Patrick Mcguire, of Thompsons Solicitors, which has represented several families affected by the tragedy, said: “This is very welcome news from the Crown Office, although it has taken far too long for us to reach this stage.”
“I hope the Crown Office will make sure the families are at the very centre of this process, are kept fully informed of all developments and are treated in a compassionate and sympathetic manner.”