The House of Lords has decided to launch an inquiry into the Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash.

An RAF board of inquiry found that the pilots, Flight-Lieutenants Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook, were to blame for the 1994 crash in which 29 people, many of whom were senior Northern Ireland security officers, died. They were declared guilty of gross negligence even though the RAF's rules stated that "only in cases in which there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever should deceased aircrew be found negligent".

Since the crash continuing investigations, including one by the Commons Public Accounts Committee, have focused on repeated problems with the aircraft and its Fadec engine software.

The government had previously opposed further departmental investigations into the crash, and defence minister Geoff Hoon had branded the PAC inquiry "superficial". However, the government offered no opposition to Lord Chalfont's motion in the Lords on the establishment of an ad hoc select committee inquiry.

Calling for peers to support his motion, Lord Chalfont argued that many "distinguished and experienced people, including judges, aviation and computer experts, former Ministers and politicians of all parties have the gravest doubts" about the negligence verdict.

Responding for the government, Baroness Symons argued: "No government should overturn the results of a properly constituted board of inquiry because others disagree with the findings."