Scottish ministers urge government to act over Clutha report recommendations

Scottish ministers urge government to act on recommendations as soon as possible. Credit: PA

Ministers in Scotland have urged the Government to ensure the recommendations of a report into the Clutha helicopter crash are implemented as soon as possible.

A Scottish police helicopter crashed through the roof of the Clutha bar in X in November 2013 killing 10 people.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) published on Friday concluded that two fuel supply switches were off in the helicopter and that the pilot, David Traill, failed to follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit.

It recommended the Civil Aviation Authority should ensure all emergency service helicopters are fitted with a "black box" recorder to help prevent further tragedies.

Michael Matheson, the Scottish Justice Secretary wrote to the UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin asking the UK Government to ensure the recommendations were acted upon at the earliest opportunity.

Mr McLoughlin offered his sympathies to the family and friends of those killed in the crash and a spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said it was reviewing the AAIB recommendations and looking into new light weight data recorders.