Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 19 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 4

Written Answers. - Air Accident Investigations.

Paul Bradford

Ceist:

15 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will order an independent inquiry, similar to the inquiry being conducted into the Tuskar Rock Aer Lingus Viscount crash, into Aer Lingus Flight 270 EI-ACF in Spernal, England, on 1 January 1953; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22441/00]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 109 which I answered on 18 October 2000.

The accident was the subject of a public inquiry held in the Four Courts in June 1953 before the late Judge Thomas Teevan SC.

The inquiry found that the Aer Lingus DC 3 aircraft on a scheduled flight from Dublin to Birmingham on January 1, crashed at Spernal near Birmingham with the loss of the aircraft. There were no fatalities.

The inquiry found that the captain was responsible for the accident by allowing both engines cut out by feeding from the same fuel tank which ran dry.

The captain's license was endorsed by the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, the effect of which prohibited him from flying passenger aircraft. The license was restored without prejudice in 1977.

The late captain's family now seek the quashing of the verdict of the court and officials of my Department are in contact with them. I believe that these discussions should shortly result in an agreed mechanism for a structured review of the issues which are of concern to the family.

Question No. 16 taken with Question No. 13.

Question No. 17 taken with Question No. 12.