Lack of US help over fatal helicopter crash in Iraq 'inexcusable', says coroner

[milmor_1]

Here is another of those stories about NO co-operation with coroners courts.

Lack of US help over fatal helicopter crash in Iraq 'inexcusable', says coroner

By Aislinn Simpson, PA
Published: 17 April 2007

The coroner hearing an inquest into the deaths of eight servicemen in an American helicopter crash in Iraq has issued a list of demands for evidence he wants from the US.

Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker said the lack of help from America was "inexcusable" and he expected an American safety report into the incident to be on his desk tomorrow morning.

Mr Walker was told by Ministry of Defence lawyer Wendy Outhwaite that the Americans had "expressly" forbidden release of the document.

She said: "I am afraid the US will not release authorisation to give it."

But Mr Walker told her: "I want to see that document and I think it's entirely unacceptable that a relevant document is something that I cannot see.

"I cannot simply dismiss a relevant document because the US military refuses to let me see it."

Following the opening of the Oxford inquest into the deaths, south of the Kuwaiti border early on March 21 2003, and some strong comment from the coroner, the Americans agreed to release a recording taken from inside one of the US Marine corps Sea Knights flying in formation into Iraq.

The infrared recording is thought to show the extent to which the aircraft could see each other, and could indicate whether the US investigation's conclusion - that the pilot became spatially disorientated - is correct.

But the coroner is still pushing for permission for the families of the dead servicemen to see the tape as well.

Mr Walker also mentioned footage filmed by an embedded crew from Fox News which he has tried to obtain, but it is not clear whether this is the same as the infrared footage or a different recording.

Mr Walker added to his list of demands an uncensored copy of the Jagman Report - the US report into the accident that considers whether any blame can be attributed for the crash - and a US engineering report.

He also hit out at the failure of the US to provide American witnesses from the Sea Knights around the one that crashed as it flew into Iraq just hours after the Americans began the bombardment campaign that would lead to the destruction of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Paul Spencer, representing the widow and family of one of the victims of the helicopter crash, Sergeant Les Hehir, 34, from Poole, Dorset, said widow Sharon Hehir felt the lack of co-operation was a "cover-up".

He told him: "It's a matter of deep regret and anger on her part that the Americans have refused to co-operate."

Mr Walker replied: "It seems to me inexcusable that witnesses could come to assist this inquest but they are not allowed to do so."

Lack of US help over fatal helicopter crash in Iraq 'inexcusable', says coroner - Independent Online Edition > Legal

[Woodmonkey]

I've read where the government frequently doesn't want to release info about incidents to American families also. It makes it hard when the families are trying to find out what happened with their loved ones - whether they are from America or from another country.

Does the Freedom of Information Act apply here?

[milmor_1]

Who knows Katie, but this article on the same subject raises some valid questions

Mechanical failure blamed for helicopter deaths
PA
Published: 19 April 2007
A coroner conducting an inquest into the deaths of eight British servicemen, killed when a US helicopter crashed in the Gulf, today concluded the tragedy "arose out of a mechanical failure".

Andrew Walker heaped further criticism on the United States for their failure to co-operate with his inquest in Oxford, saying it made his job " more difficult" and the grieving families' experience "more harrowing ".

The helicopter, an American Sea Knight, went down south of the Kuwait border in March 2003 on the first day of the Iraq war.

As well as the eight British servicemen, four US servicemen also died.

American investigators concluded after the incident that spatial disorientation suffered by the US Marine Corps pilots led to the tragedy.

But a British Board of Inquiry disagreed, finding instead that a mechanical fault caused the helicopter to plunge nose first into the ground.

This conclusion was later overruled by UK defence chiefs, who supported the Americans' explanation.

Recording a narrative verdict today, Mr Walker, assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire, said there was "no evidence whatsoever" that pilot error, in the form of spatial disorientation, was to blame on the strength of the evidence before him.


Mr Walker criticised US authorities for their non co-operation with the inquest. The Americans then permitted a report into the crash - albeit a heavily redacted copy - to be handed to the coroner.

But he today voiced further anger because all the important, conclusive analysis had been removed.

It was suggested at the inquest that the Americans' explanation for the crash could have been to avoid grounding its entire fleet of Sea Knights to rectify any such mechanical failing.

Major Mark Hammond, of the UK Board of Inquiry, would not comment but said he had "great difficulty in resolving (the matter) on the evidence that I have before me".

The US Embassy did not respond to a request to send its ambassador or his deputy to attend court to explain the US position following comments made by US Deputy Chief of Mission David Johnson on Channel 4 news that the coroner was not "competent" to investigate.

Grainy film footage, believed shot by Fox News, was played to the court showing Sea Knight helicopters in formation in the air then what appears to be the wreckage of one of the aircraft on the ground.

The British victims, all from 3 Commando Brigade, were the first UK casualties of the Iraq war.

The men who died were Royal Marines Colour Sergeant John Cecil, 35, from Plymouth, Devon; Captain Philip Guy, 29, from Bishopdale, North Yorkshire; Marine Sholto Hedenskog, 26, from Cape Town, South Africa; Warrant Officer 2 Mark Stratford, 39, from Plymouth; and Major Jason Ward, 34, from Torquay, Devon.

Also killed were Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, 24, of Llandudno, North Wales, who had a younger brother serving in the same unit, and Sgt Les Hehir, both of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery; and Operator Mechanic (Communications) Second Class Ian Seymour, 29, from Poole in Dorset and of the 148 Commando Battery Royal Artillery.


The coroner's narrative verdict was as follows:

"On the 21st March 2003 at 23.22 hours local time (the UK servicemen)... were being transported from Kuwait to Iraq as part of Operation Telic in a CH46 Sea Knight helicopter.

"The aircraft was flying at low altitude in straight level flight when a runaway (a mechanical fault) in both the differential air speed hold actuators (components within the helicopter) caused the aircraft to lose control and strike the ground at 23.35 hours local time, resulting in the loss of all members of the four-man crew (American servicemen) together with all the United Kingdom personnel travelling on the aircraft."

Mechanical failure blamed for helicopter deaths - Independent Online Edition > This Britain

[Woodmonkey]

My husband flew for the Air Force and he was frustrated at how 'they' always wanted to blame the aircrews for accidents.

I wonder just what they told the American families about this accident? There are too many instances of military authorities lying to the families, some hit the news big time like Tilman.