Chinook crash families demand MoD refer itself to ICO over FOI data breach

Families of the 29 victims of the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash have accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of callous disregard following the release of sensitive personal data. Disclosed to a media organisation under a freedom of information request, the material reportedly contains financial and legal information. The Chinook Justice Campaign has filed a formal complaint, demanding the department refer itself to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

The breach occurred after a minister suggested certain sealed documents were available, despite the families previously being told records were "sealed for 100 years due to personal data reasons". Lawyers for the bereaved have called for the retraction of the documents, citing serious failures in safeguarding and due process. The development has intensified calls for a judge-led public inquiry and the application of a proposed legal duty of candour.

The crash, which killed all on board, saw the pilots wrongly blamed for years before their 2011 exoneration. 

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