Hampshire family of Chinook helicopter crash victim say answers would give closure
The Chinook Justice Campaign group are preparing to meet ministers for the first time since the crash 31 years ago
The Hampshire family of a Chinook crash victim are saying answers would help them to have closure as the campaign group prepare for their first ministerial meeting in 31 years.
The justice group found out through a documentary last year that the Ministry of Defence sealed documents related to the incident for 100 years.
Some of the families involved in the Chinook Justice Campaign will head to London tomorrow with over 300 unanswered questions.
Susan Angus lost her husband, Major Gary Sparks, in the crash, and said: "That is the first time in 31 years that the ministers from the Ministry of Defence have agreed to meet us.
"We've just been dismissed throughout the whole process, despite our campaign, which has raised over 51,000 signatures, and all the work we've been doing.
"Everybody on the group is doing something to get to the bottom of it, and now finally, some of the ministers have agreed to meet us."
She's telling us what answers would mean to her and her family.
She said: "I think it would just give us closure.
"Our loss is compounded by not knowing exactly what happened.
"It's obviously 30 years since the accident, since the crash, and it's another 70 years until those papers are released.
"Even my grandchildren will be in their 70s by then, and I'll be long gone.
"My children will be in their dotage.
"We need to know now and we need to get some closure on it all."
The campaign group say they have 335 unanswered questions.
They are calling for a judge-led public inquiry into the crash.
An MOD spokesperson said: “The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.
"We understand that the lack of certainty about the cause of the crash has added to the distress of the families.
“The accident has already been the subject of six inquiries and investigations, including an independent judge-led review.
"Lord Coaker, Minister of State for Defence, Al Carns, Minister for the Armed Forces and Louise Sandher-Jones MP, Minister for Veterans and People, will be meeting with representatives from the Chinook Justice Campaign before the end of the year, to listen to their concerns first hand.”