Army pilot grounded after helicopter crash
A British army pilot has been permanently banned from flying after crashing a Gazelle helicopter in Northern Ireland, it was revealed today.
The pilot and his co-pilot were injured when the helicopter went down on the mud flats of Lough Foyle near the Ballykelly military base in Co Derry in July 2002.
The helicopter was swiftly submerged and the slightly injured pilot and more seriously hurt co-pilot managed to swim to shore.
An air accident report into the crash has blamed the pilot for the accident.
Gregory Campbell, seeking re-election as Democratic Unionist MP for East Derry said the report summary suggested the pilot may have been drinking.
Mr Campbell said he had received the completed Accident Summary which blamed human error.
He said it added: “This was due to a lack of attention to the external visual cues and to the flight instruments, whilst distracted, fatigued and probably under the influence of alcohol.”
Mr Campbell said he would be pursuing the matter as, given the conclusions and what could have happened if the helicopter had come down in a populated area, it was “imperative that every possible step is taken to prevent any re-occurrence”.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said today: “It was never proven that he was under the influence of alcohol.”
The grounds of a court martial hearing were that the pilot had “destroyed one of Her Majesty’s aircraft” he said.
The MOD spokesman added: “I can confirm a soldier was court martialled and disciplined in relation to the incident.
“He was permanently grounded and banned from flying.”
The soldier is still serving in the army in a different role, he said.
