§ Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence in relation to the 1994 Chinook crash, (1) what assessment he has made of the state of health of Flight Lieutenant Tapper(a) five minutes, (b) four minutes, (c) three minutes, (d) two minutes and (e) one minute before the crash; [129288]
(2) what assessment he has made of the state of health of Flight Lieutenant Cook (a) five minutes, (b) four minutes, (c) three minutes, (d) two minutes and (e) one minute before the crash. [129289]
§ Mr. SpellarThe RAF Board of Inquiry determined that Flight Lieutenants Tapper and Cook were free from emotional stress, and were well rested and physically fit prior to commencing duty on 2 June 1994. A complete medical examination of their bodies was carried out after the crash by a team headed by a consultant forensic pathologist. This showed that both were in good health and had taken neither alcohol nor drugs. Nothing was found to suggest that an explosion or any noxious agent played any part in the accident. The Board of Inquiry concluded that the mental and physical state of Flight Lieutenants Tapper and Cook was most unlikely to have been a factor in the accident.