New evidence has found that computer software malfunction could be a prime reason behind the tragic crash of the Royal Air Force’s Chinook mk2 helicopter on 2 June 1994.

The Chinook mk2 helicopter, en route from Northern Ireland to Inverness, crashed on the Mull of Kintyre, destroying the bulk of the aircraft and killing special forces crew and 25 senior members of Northern Ireland’s intelligence community.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Written nine months before the crash, an internal MoD document termed the software of the helicopter as positively dangerous, according to BBC.

The document, written by a senior engineering officer at Boscombe Down, said the Chinook mk2 could not be recommended for service and also suggested a rewrite of the computer software.

The report found the engine FADEC (control system) as safety critical and warned any malfunctions or design errors could result into catastrophic effects.

The document revealed 21 category 1 and 153 category 2 anomalies.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

During an initial enquiry, however, the RAF found the two pilots of the Chinook helicopter guilty of gross negligence.

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact