New evidence has emerged that computer software faults may have caused the June 1994 RAF Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre. The Royal Air Force had found the 2 Pilots guilty of gross negligence after the crash in thick fog which killed all 29 people onboard. The Chinook Mark 2 helicopter crashed on June 2, 1994 en route from Northern Ireland to Inverness. Among those killed were special forces crew and 25 senior members of Northern Ireland's intelligence community. An official RAF inquiry into the incident concluded the aircraft was airworthy and found the pilots guilty of gross negligence. However, 3 subsequent inquiries have found the cause of the crash was inconclusive. The Pilots' families and campaigners have always believed serious flaws in the helicopter were more likely to have been responsible for the crash. Now, new evidence shows that an internal MoD document, written 9 months before the crash, said the software was "positively dangerous". The documents from the MoD aircraft testing centre at Boscombe Down show there were serious concerns and warnings over the engine control computer software. Other documents show the warnings and recommendations were ignored. 1 written on the day of the crash stated it was "imperative" that the "RAF should cease operations". In a statement, the MoD said the helicopter was airworthy and the latest information could not be classed as new evidence. The families of those killed said that they would continue to press for a new hearing into the crash.
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