Chinook ZD576: exclusive picture

This photo of Chinook ZD576 is the copyright of Robin Crorie who has given kind permission for it to be used by Computer Weekly in connection with our Campaign for Justice. It must not be copied, shared, circulated, used or reused without the permission of the copyright holder.

The picture was taken early in the 1990s at Surrey Police HQ in Guildford when ZD576 was a Mk1. The Chinook was fitted later with a software-controlled Full Authority Digital Engine Control [Fadec] system as part of a Mk2 upgrade. The Fadec upgrade made the Mk2 Chinook notoriously unstable.

This photo is rare, and possibly unique. It shows ZD576 intact. The Chinook crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June 1994, killing all on board including the four aircrew and 25 senior police and intelligence officers.

The pilots, flight lieutenants Jonathan Tapper and Rick Cook, were blamed for the crash although it had several potential causes. The evidence does not rule out problems with the Fadec system. Campaigners are hoping the finding against the pilots will be set aside.