2013 Glasgow helicopter crash

Bond Air Services

Company type	Private
Industry	Aviation, Helicopter services
Headquarters	Glasgow , Scotland, United Kingdom
Area served	Scotland
Products	Police helicopter operations

On 29 November 2013, a police helicopter operated by Bond Air Services on behalf of Police Scotland collided with The Clutha, a pub located in central Glasgow. This tragic accident resulted in the deaths of all three crew members and seven patrons inside the venue. Additionally, thirty-one individuals sustained injuries.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the crash was caused by fuel starvation, which occurred due to improper handling of the fuel system.

Accident

At 20:45 on 29 November 2013, the helicopter took off from Glasgow City Heliport. The pilot, David Traill, aged 51, brought two decades of experience flying Chinook helicopters within the RAF, including time as an instructor, along with four years of police aviation service and a total of 646 flight hours on the EC135 model. Onboard were two police observers, PCs Kirsty Nelis and Tony Collins, along with 400 kg of fuel.

Operating under callsign SP99, the helicopter initially participated in a search for a trespasser near Eglinton Toll. It then proceeded to Dalkeith in Midlothian—approximately 44 miles east of its base—before heading back to Glasgow. Shortly prior to impact, the pilot was granted permission to return to Glasgow City Heliport.

At around 22:22, roughly two miles east of the heliport, the helicopter struck the flat rooftop of The Clutha pub on Stockwell Street without issuing any distress signal. Approximately 120 patrons were inside at the time during a performance by ska band Esperanza; some became trapped beneath debris from the collapsing roof. The crash claimed all three crew members and six individuals inside the pub. Thirty-two others were injured, with twelve sustaining serious harm; one of these later succumbed to injuries. Witness Gordon Smart, editor of the Scottish Sun, noted that there was no visible explosion or fireball but reported hearing engine misfiring.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a twin-engine Eurocopter EC135 T2+, serial number 0546, bearing registration G-SPAO and manufactured in 2007. By the time of the accident, it had accumulated 6,351 flight hours and completed 9,385 landings. Its Certificate of Airworthiness remained valid until 4 September 2018.

Emergency response

The building's structure—a former tenement with thick walls reinforced after fire damage in the 1960s—posed significant challenges for search and rescue operations. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed 125 firefighters who worked for several hours to extract those trapped inside. The Scottish Ambulance Service dispatched more than 25 ambulances alongside two Special Operations Response Teams trained for major incidents. Urban search and rescue units stabilized precarious sections and conducted excavations through collapsed areas. Those rescued were initially taken to a nearby Holiday Inn for care.

Labour MP Jim Murphy gave an interview shortly following the event. Thirty-two victims received treatment at local hospitals such as Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Glasgow Victoria Infirmary, with twelve sustaining serious injuries. An emergency hotline was established to assist concerned family members, while Glasgow City Council opened a family reception centre providing support and counseling services. One critically injured individual later died on 12 December.

Reactions

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described the incident as "a black day for Glasgow and for Scotland".<ref>In response, scheduled St. Andrew's Day festivities in Glasgow's George Square were cancelled the following day, and flags on Scottish Government buildings were flown at half-mast.<ref> Scottish football teams observed a minute’s silence before matches.<ref>Memorial services were held at both Glasgow's St Andrew's Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.<ref>

On 6 December, the Prince of Wales visited the crash location to meet with emergency responders.<ref> Authorities investigated offensive posts containing racist or sectarian remarks about the crash circulating on social media.<ref> A fundraising event spanning from 3–5 January 2014 supported families affected by the tragedy as well as emergency personnel.<ref>

Investigation

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), tasked with probing aircraft accidents in the UK, initiated an investigation into the incident. Support was provided by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation and the French authorities, given that the helicopter and its engines were produced in Germany and France respectively. Additionally, the American National Transportation Safety Board, representing the manufacturer of the engine's FADEC control system, also participated in the inquiry.

The damaged helicopter was transported to the AAIB's facility in Farnborough, Hampshire on 3 December. Although the aircraft was not equipped with flight data recorders, its onboard electronic systems potentially contained data that could assist in identifying the cause of the crash.

Preliminary findings

A preliminary report issued by the AAIB on 9 December confirmed that while rotor blades were secured, neither they nor the fenestron tail rotor were rotating upon impact. No evidence of failure was found in either the engine or gearbox systems, and roughly of fuel remained onboard.

The helicopter collided with the building at a steep descent rate and very low forward velocity, coming to a near-vertical rest position without any components detaching during flight.

A Special Bulletin released on 14 February 2014 disclosed that both engines had experienced flameouts, although the exact reasons were not yet determined. Of two fuel supply tanks feeding the engines, one was completely empty and the other nearly so, containing only . The main fuel tank still held of fuel; however, pumps responsible for transferring fuel to the engine tanks were found to be switched off.

Final report

Published in October 2015, the final accident report attributed the primary cause to fuel starvation, resulting from the fuel transfer pumps being deactivated for reasons that remain unknown. This led to engine flameouts despite of usable fuel remaining in the main tank. Contributing factors included failure to execute an emergency landing within ten minutes following the initial low-fuel warning and unsuccessful autorotation attempts after both engines failed.

The AAIB further highlighted that following engine flameout, both the radar altimeter and steerable landing light lost power, which caused a loss of altitude information and diminished visual references during autorotation. The investigation culminated in seven safety recommendations.

Fatal accident inquiry

In 2017, a fatal accident inquiry into the crash was announced by the Crown Office, confirming that Police Scotland's investigation would not result in criminal charges. Preliminary hearings took place in late 2018 and early 2019. The formal inquiry commenced on 8 April 2019 at a temporary courtroom located in Hampden Park, concluding after 31 sitting days on 5 August.

While attendance was compulsory for members of the helicopter crew and optional for patrons present at Clutha Vaults, Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull presided over proceedings. His written determination was published on 30 October 2019, issuing no formal recommendations.

The Clutha

The Clutha pub partially reopened its doors in July 2015, with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attending the reopening event.

Civil aviation

In response to this accident and based on AAIB guidance, the Civil Aviation Authority mandated that all police helicopters be fitted with both Cockpit Voice Recorders and Flight Data Recorders. This requirement was set to be fulfilled by no later than 31 March 2020.

Media

In November 2021, Michael Byrne, a pub survivor, shared his experience on BBC Radio 4's Life Changing. He revealed that the crash prompted him to face thoughts of suicide and motivated him to create "Lived Experience Trauma Support," an organization offering mental health education and assistance.

External links

• Eurocopter EC135 T2i Accident dedicated page
• Explanation of the investigation by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Twitter timeline curated by the UK News Manager; features images from rescue and recovery operations.
• Eurocopter Safety Information Notice No. 2665-S-00-Rev-1 dated 3 December 2013
• Official Scottish Judiciary page
• Fatal Accident Inquiry report by Sheriff Principal C D Turnbull