- Written by Connor Neeson
- BBC News NI
image source, fine point film
Niven Phoenix heard the news of his father’s death on the car radio.
Niven Phoenix, 21, was training to become a pilot when he received a call telling him to go home.
By the time he got into his car, the radio was reporting the worst.
A Chinook helicopter crashes on the Scottish island of Mull after leaving Northern Ireland. There were no survivors.
It was June 2, 1994. His father, Det Supt Ian Phoenix, and 28 others lost their lives.
“I was so shocked I had to stop the car,” he told BBC News NI.
“The friend I was with had to drive me home instead.”
This was the worst peacetime accident in Royal Air Force history. The ship was manned by key security personnel from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), MI5 and the Army.
They were heading to a security conference in Inverness just two months before the 1994 IRA ceasefire.
The crash, whose exact cause remains unknown, and the controversial investigation in its aftermath are the subject of a new two-part documentary from BBC Northern Ireland, Chinook: Zero Delta 576.
The documentary focuses on the ongoing impact of the events of that day, from the devastation caused to families to the investigation to hold the pilots accountable, and the 20-year journey to clear their names. It sparked an extensive campaign.
Mr Niven, who contributed to the documentary, said his father joined the RUC after serving in the Army and rose through the ranks to become Detective Chief Inspector of the Special Branch.
Mr Niven said his father may have been strict, but that was a reflection of the high-pressure environment he worked in as a senior police officer during the height of the Northern Ireland crisis.
“We certainly had a good relationship and loved each other,” he said.
He vividly remembers the phone call on the day of the accident telling him to go home. He asked the officer what was going on, but could not get any further information. Radio coverage and his friend gave me a ride the rest of the way.
image source, phoenix family
Ian Phoenix spent time in the Army before rising through the ranks of the RUC
He also remembers what happened next, remembering the comfort of those walking up the hill to his family’s home that night.
“People were very caring and I felt that personally. When you grow up in Northern Ireland you have a strong attachment to the police and the military and they are often seen as your protectors,” he said. Ta.
Ms Niven said it had been a “long process” for her family to deal with her father’s death.
“Grief never goes away. It stays with you and your life grows around it. You just have to get over it and be grateful for what you have,” he said.
“We were so grateful for the time we spent with my father. His funeral was probably one of the proudest days of my life. When I met all the people, I felt very grateful for my father’s funeral. I was able to speak at the funeral.”
One thing that struck him even then, he said, was that there were “worse ways” for a police officer to die in an accident in Northern Ireland at the time.
image source, phoenix family
Niven says his father played a big role in choosing his career as a pilot.
The family believed from the beginning that “accidents happen” and did not harbor any anger toward the crew.
Mr Niven was already on his way to becoming a pilot when his father died, but believes the accident was a “formative experience” for his future career in safety.
“My time in the military was colored by how I viewed the hierarchy, for lack of a better expression, I couldn’t trust the military,” he said. .
He often turned down operations he felt were unplanned or unsafe, and because his superiors knew of his father’s death, he was never questioned about it.
image source, phoenix family
Mr Niven said the manner of his father’s death “colored” his views on class in his military career.
Trevor Barney, the director of the new documentary, was a young journalist working at Downtown Radio when the accident occurred.
“As a reporter, there are always stories that resonate with me and stay with me,” he said.
“Life was lost, crew talent was lost, and years of misconduct followed.”
image source, phoenix family
Bernie says it was important to hear from families like the Nivens to understand the true impact.
He likened the controversy to the ongoing Post Office IT scandal.
The Royal Air Force was heavily criticized after a commission of inquiry found gross negligence on the part of two pilots was to blame.
Both Lt. Jonathan Tapper and Lt. Richard Cook were ultimately acquitted after a 20-year family-led operation.
“Here in Northern Ireland, we are used to families alleging collusion and demanding truth,” Mr Burney said.
“This is just an organization: 10 members of the RUC, six members of MI5, four crew members, nine members of the Royal Army. If the RAF refuses to tell them the truth, who else? Do I have a chance?”
He added that speaking with the family is an important part of this story.
“Sometimes you don’t have a chance to stop, but it’s not just a statistic or a name on a wall. This has had a real impact and a devastating impact on Phoenix and others involved.”
Chinook: Zulu Delta 576 will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland on 29 January at 22:40 GMT and on BBC Scotland on 30 January at 22:00. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.