The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
MSP leads calls for FAI into 2012 Tornado death crash
It’ s time a civil inquiry was held, says father of dead crewman
A dad whose son was killed in a horror Tornado crash off the Highland coast is pushing for a public hearing into the tragedy.
Campaigners are to meet senior Crown Office lawyers tomorrow to push for a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the collision between two jets that killed three people in 2012.
Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole, 28, Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, 27, and Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey, 36, died in a midair crash between two jets
“We’ll present what we believe to be new evidence”
over the Moray Firth. An investigation was carried out by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) but Moray MSP Richard Lochhead is leading calls for an FAI, saying “many issues remain outstanding”.
In 2015 the Crown Office considered the case but said an FAI would only repeat the MAA inquiry.
Campaigners say there is new evidence to be considered around service inquiries and risk assessments.
Mr Lochhead is to meet the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit at the Crown Office tomorrow to discuss the case.
Mike Poole, father of Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole, welcomed the meeting, saying:“I understand that the law has now changed and if the accident in which my son died happened today a Fatal Accident Inquiry would take place automatically.
“I feel it is iniquitous that my son’s death has not been given the same consideration.
“I have the greatest respect for those who undertook that inquiry. However, it was a Military Aviation Authority inquiry and, regardless of their independence from the RAF, it was undertaken by military personnel.
“I believe a Fatal Accident Inquiry would bring a different viewpoint and holding a Fatal Accident Inquiry is the best way in which the public interest can be served.
“My abiding motivation is to see that every action that can be taken to prevent another accident of this type is implemented. I believe consideration of the new evidence by a Fatal Accident Inquiry would contribute to a reduction of the risks that military pilots are exposed to.”
Mr Lochhead said: “We’ll present to the Crown Office what we believe to be new evidence, and make the case for the issues to be properly investigated in a fully transparent and open manner.
“There is a big difference between an FAI in Scotland and the internal inquiry that was conducted by the Military Aviation Authority.
“While the MAA inquiry fulfilled an extremely important role, there should be an FAI as well.
“Legislation was changed in 2016, thanks to a successful campaign by my constituent Jimmy Jones.
“It means that if such an accident occurred today there would automatically be an FAI.
“We were disappointed when the Lord Advocate originally turned down our appeal to him to revisit his decision to reject an FAI but we welcome this further opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with his officials to press the case.
“Many issues remain outstanding and we are still waiting for the Typhoon squadrons that replaced the Tornados to be fitted with collision warning systems.”