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Police helicopter ‘spluttered, light went out, and rotor stopped spinning’ before before fatal crash onto packed pub, witness tells inquiry

The pilot, two crew members and seven customers died when the police helicopter crashed through the roof of the packed Clutha pub in Glasgow on 29 November 2013

Conor Riordan,Lucinda Cameron
Monday 08 April 2019 17:11 BST
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Helicopter removed from pub

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A fatal accident inquiry has opened to examine how a police helicopter crashed onto the roof of a packed Glasgow pub, killing ten people.

More than 100 people were at the Clutha Vaults pub when the Police Scotland helicopter, returning to its base on the banks of the River Clyde, crashed through the roof on 29 November 2013.

The pilot, two crew members and seven customers died.

A minute’s silence was held at the start of the inquiry on Monday morning in memory of those who died. Relatives of some of the pub customers who died read statements, paying tribute to them.

The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull is being held in Glasgow in a temporary court in a conference suite at Hampden Park, Scotland’s national football stadium.

The first person to give evidence was eyewitness Andrew Bergin.

The 30-year-old solicitor from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, told how he was walking by the riverside on the night in question.

He said of the helicopter: “When I first started to watch there was nothing particular about it. I suppose I liked to watch it go past.

“As it got to my 7 o’clock, over my left shoulder, it made what I can only describe as a spluttering noise. It wasn’t any lower than I would have seen it before.

“The tail of the helicopter dipped and pointed to the ground. Simultaneously, the light on the helicopter went out.

“It seemed to me that the rotor stopped spinning. It was still turning, but not under power.

“It seemed to immediately lose height as soon as the spluttering occurred.

“Everything happened more or less at the same time.”

Ernest Doherty, 64, from South Lanarkshire, had finished work and was walking along Buchanan Street when a sound from above grabbed his attention.

“It made a sound like an old car trying to start,” he said, “But trying to start 1,000 times louder.

“As I looked up above the buildings I saw the helicopter come down passing the church.”

The FAI heard tributes to Samuel McGhee, 56; Gary Arthur, 48; Robert Jenkins, 61; Colin Gibson, 33; John McGarrigle, 57; and Mark O’Prey, 44.

The tribute for Robert Jenkins described the emotional pain his death had caused his partner Mary Kavanagh.

“They had only been in the bar for 40 minutes when tragedy struck,” it said. “All Mary Kavanagh wants to know is why she went in that bar with the man she was to spend the rest of her life with and came out alone.”

Kerry McGhee described her father Samuel McGhee as a hard worker who was “very sociable” with “many friends”.

A statement for Colin Gibson’s family said: “If you were lucky enough to meet him, you knew you had as he left a lasting impression on you.

“Ever since he was a young boy he enjoyed helping people.

“He had never visited the Clutha bar before. Colin just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The sisters of Gary Arthur told the inquiry in a statement: “He was caring, loving and could also be annoying in our younger years.

“He was a joker and he continued to be a loving rogue throughout his life.

“Nothing will ever bring our brother back, but hopefully we will finally be given the chance to find closure.

“We want to remember Gary as a much-loved person and not just a victim of the Clutha.”

No statement was provided by the relatives of Joe Cusker, 59.

There were no personal statements on behalf of pilot David Traill or crew members Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis.

The purpose of the FAI is to determine the cause of the deaths, establish whether they could have been prevented and enable the sheriff to make recommendations that could prevent fatalities in similar circumstances.

The Eurocopter being removed from the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow
The Eurocopter being removed from the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow (PA)

An Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit.

The Crown Office has previously said there is insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings.

A total of 57 Crown witnesses are expected to give evidence at the inquiry, down from a previous estimate of 85.

Police have taken more than 2,000 statements as part of preparations for the FAI, while the Crown has around 1,400 productions.

The inquiry is expected to involve around three months of evidence spread over six calendar months this year.

(Press Association)

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