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BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Scotland Chinook crash victim 'would want answers', says sister
The sister of a man who was killed when an RAF Chinook helicopter crashed in 1994 said he would want her to get to the truth of his Christopher Dockerty, 33, whose family lived in Cambridgeshire, was one of 29 people killed in the crash on the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland on 2 June that year. His sibling, Nicola Rawcliffe, who lives near Diss in Norfolk, was among a group of campaigners calling for a public inquiry. She is supported by her father, John Dockerty, who lives in Suffolk.A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the accident had already been the subject of six inquiries, and sealed records could not be released due to data protection rules. On the day her brother died, Mrs Rawcliffe had just returned home from a holiday with her husband and was welcomed with a birthday card from her said she had not listened to any news that night and went to bed."The next thing I knew was stones being thrown up at our bedroom window in the early hours of 3 June because, unbeknown to me, Chris had appointed me his next of kin should my parents be out of the country," she explained."I had the harrowing task of not only receiving the devastating news delivered to me by this army officer at two in the morning, but then I also had to telephone my parents to tell them their eldest son had been killed in a Chinook helicopter crash."It was harrowing and incredibly hard."She described her brother as a "gregarious chap" with a "very warm personality" and "infectious laugh". The helicopter had been on its way from RAF Aldergrove, in Northern Ireland, to a conference in Inverness, in Scotland, and was travelling through thick was carrying leading security personnel, all of whom died in the the crash was blamed on pilot error, but they were exonerated in 2011. The families of the victims wanted High Court judges to review information they said was not considered in previous investigations and for the government to release documents on the crash that were sealed for 100 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Friday rejected the calls and said he had been advised by the MoD that the records offered "no insights" and he did not believe a new inquiry would "bring any greater certainty" or would be in the public interest. Mrs Rawcliffe said it felt like the prime minister had "slammed the door in our face" and she wanted him to "stand up and get the truth"."We just want somebody to tell us why the helicopter left the ground because we have the evidence to show that it was unairworthy," she continued."It would help because grief is hard enough."If [Christopher] was here, he would say, 'Just keep going, you've got to keep going until you find that answer and get that truth'."Mr Dockerty, 96, said he was "extremely grateful" to his daughter for her campaigning."I think it's quite disgusting that it has been allowed to fester as long as it has without getting to the bottom of things," he added. A spokesperson for the MoD 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."The accident has already been the subject of six inquiries and investigations, including an independent judge-led review."They reiterated that the sealed record contained personal records and that the release of the information would breach data protection rules. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Al Jazeera
24-07-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Deadly Cyprus wildfire claims two lives, forces mass evacuations
Published On 24 Jul 2025 24 Jul 2025 A devastating wildfire in southern Cyprus has killed two people and prompted hundreds to flee as flames ravaged approximately 100 square kilometres (38 square miles) of territory in a wine-producing region north of the city of Limassol. The blaze erupted around midday on Wednesday and continues raging across multiple fronts, endangering more than a dozen villages. Authorities discovered two victims in a charred vehicle, trapped by the rapidly advancing inferno. At least 10 others suffered injuries, with two in serious condition. Extreme weather has fuelled the fire's intensity, with temperatures soaring to 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and forecast to reach 44C (111.2F) on Thursday, making it the year's hottest day. Powerful, erratic winds have severely hampered containment efforts. The Ministry of Interior mandated immediate evacuations throughout a 14km (8.7 miles) stretch of mountainous area. Children at a campsite near Lofou village were also moved to safety. Video footage revealed trees, vegetation, and homes consumed by flames, while thick smoke shrouded the region. President Nikos Christodoulides visited the command centre in Ayios Efraim and implored residents to heed evacuation directives. More than 250 firefighters are combating the inferno with assistance from 13 aircraft. Spain is dispatching two firefighting planes, while Jordan has sent helicopters, and a British RAF Chinook based in Cyprus is providing additional support. Officials have not been able to identify the fire's cause, but stressed that unpredictable, gusty winds significantly contributed to its spread. Cyprus is simultaneously experiencing severe drought conditions, with the nearby Kouris reservoir — the island's largest — at merely 15.5 percent capacity, compounding the environmental crisis. This wildfire ranks among the most severe the island has experienced in years, with conditions worsening under extreme heat and dangerously arid circumstances.
