Jet claim at Hislop crash inquiry

Steve Hislop died in a crash in the Borders nearly five years ago

An inquiry has heard claims that two low-flying military jets passed nearby shortly before a helicopter crash in which motorbike star Steve Hislop died.

An eyewitness reported seeing the jets flying through a valley near the time of the accident.

Mr Hislop was flying from the Borders to Buckinghamshire when his helicopter hit hills near Hawick on 30 July 2003.

The fatal accident inquiry, scheduled for five days at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, continues.

School auxiliary Maureen Briggs, 63, told the hearing she was in her garden when she heard a helicopter noise overhead, followed "seconds" later by the sound of jets and then a bang.

"Suddenly there was a terrific noise of two jets," she said.

"They were on their sides going up each side of the valley, very low.

"It was immediately after the helicopter."

'Terrible bang'

Fiscal depute John Kirk asked how long after the noise of the helicopter she had heard the jets and she replied "seconds".

"Then there was this terrible bang of some kind, a really terrific noise," she said.

"I thought it was a bit unusual."

Alistair Cook, 36, a childhood friend of Mr Hislop, told the court he saw a small helicopter flying overhead in Teviot then 30 seconds to two minutes later, heard jets.

"There was a hell of a noise right above my mother's house," he said.

Witnesses claimed they heard military jets before the crash

"I'm sure it was military jets that were very low.

"It was like a sonic boom or something like that from the jets - I never heard anything after that."

Other witnesses spoke of seeing a Chinook helicopter in the area around the same time.

Hislop was born in Hawick and had spent three days staying with his friend Andrew Brodie, 48, near the Borders town after flying up from Buckinghamshire.

Mr Brodie said his friend had been "absolutely meticulous" in the planning of his flight.

The inquiry also heard evidence that Mr Hislop had expressed concerns about the weather on the day of the crash.

Childhood friend Wendy Stevenson said he had texted her just hours before the crash complaining about the rain.

The hearing before Sheriff Principal Edward Bowden continues.