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Clutha helicopter crash: switched-off fuel pumps caused tragedy, says report Clutha helicopter crash report: pilot did not follow emergency procedures
(about 1 hour later)
The official report into the Clutha tragedy in Glasgow has identified two key factors that caused a police helicopter to crash into a busy pub, killing 10 people, but has offered no explanation as to why they happened. The pilot of a police helicopter which ran out of fuel, crashing into a busy pub in Glasgow city centre and killing 10 people, did not follow emergency landing procedures despite acknowledging an audible low fuel warning five times.
The final conclusions of an air accident investigation into the disaster states that 73kg of usable fuel in the main tank became unusable as a result of the fuel transfer pumps being switched off “for unknown reasons”. The final conclusions of an air accident investigation into the Clutha tragedy state that pilot David Traill failed to land within the specified 10-minute period after “continuous activation of the low fuel warnings”, but offer no explanation as to why this happened.
It also says the pilot did not follow emergency procedures, failing to land within the specified 10-minute period after “continuous activation of the low fuel warnings”, again for unknown reasons. The report of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found no evidence of technical malfunction or fire.
The report notes that an audible low fuel warning was acknowledged by the pilot five times. It also states that the helicopter did have enough fuel on board to complete its journey, but that 73kg of usable fuel in the main tank became unusable as a result of the fuel transfer pumps being switched off, again “for unknown reasons”. The pumps could have been switched back manually by the pilot.
It also offers a number of safety recommendations, including that all police and medical helicopters carry flight recording equipment, a measure relatives of the victims have been calling for for some time.
The report of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was officially published on Friday, almost two years after a police helicopter returning to its base on the banks of the river Clyde crashed through the roof of the Clutha pub in Glasgow city centre on 29 November 2013. The report also offers a number of safety recommendations, including that all police and medical helicopters carry flight recorders, a measure relatives of the victims have been calling for for some time.
Relatives of those who died and survivors were made aware of the contents of the report in advance, but have been bound by confidentiality until the official publication. Many could not contain their anger as they left the briefings, claiming the report raised as many questions as it answered. The AAIB report was officially published on Friday, almost two years after a police helicopter returning to its base on the banks of the river Clyde crashed through the roof of the Clutha pub on 29 November 2013.
Immediately after publication, the Crown Office announced a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the crash was to be held “as soon as is possible”. Survivors and relatives of those who died were made aware of the contents of the report in advance, but have been bound by confidentiality until the official publication. Many could not contain their anger as they left the briefings, claiming the report raised as many questions as it answered.
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who had previously intervened twice to hasten publication, said she shared the families’ disappointment at the inconclusive report. Immediately after publication, the Crown Office announced a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the crash would be held “as soon as is possible”.
Sturgeon said: “It is deeply disappointing that after two years of investigation the report does not reach a clearer conclusion – in some respects it seems to raise more questions than it answers. I therefore share the disappointment of the families that it does not provide the closure they sought and hope that the FAI that the Crown Office has now said will happen as soon as possible, can help the families get the answers they seek.” Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who had previously intervened twice to hasten publication of the findings, said she shared the families’ disappointment at the inconclusive report.
Sturgeon said: “It is deeply disappointing that after two years of investigation the report does not reach a clearer conclusion – in some respects it seems to raise more questions than it answers. I therefore share the disappointment of the families that it does not provide the closure they sought and hope that the FAI, that the Crown Office has now said will happen as soon as possible, can help the families get the answers they seek.”
Alan Crossan, owner of the Clutha pub, told the Guardian: “I’m disappointed that it has taken them two years to say they don’t know. It’s no good for the families and injured people, not to get that wee bit of closure.”Alan Crossan, owner of the Clutha pub, told the Guardian: “I’m disappointed that it has taken them two years to say they don’t know. It’s no good for the families and injured people, not to get that wee bit of closure.”
Crossan said he refused to believe that experienced pilot David Traill, and police officers Kirsty Nelis and Tony Collins, who were also travelling in the helicopter, would have ignored a low fuel warning. “There was obviously something wrong with the aircraft. There might be another helicopter flying over the city now with the same problem.”
He added that victims should receive full compensation now that the official investigation has ended.He added that victims should receive full compensation now that the official investigation has ended.
Commenting on the report, AAIB chief inspector Keith Conradi said: “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this tragic accident. The AAIB is independent, tasked with investigating the causes of accidents to prevent recurrence and help make aviation safer.Commenting on the report, AAIB chief inspector Keith Conradi said: “Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this tragic accident. The AAIB is independent, tasked with investigating the causes of accidents to prevent recurrence and help make aviation safer.
“We do not apportion blame in our reports. We have made a series of safety recommendations in this final report including that European and British civil aviation regulators require all police and medical helicopters to carry flight recording equipment.”“We do not apportion blame in our reports. We have made a series of safety recommendations in this final report including that European and British civil aviation regulators require all police and medical helicopters to carry flight recording equipment.”