UPDATE 2015-01-06: news item by AP (preceding and unrelated to this blogpost).
On January 6th 2015, the Dutch Review Committee on the Intelligence & Security Services (CTIVD) announced (in Dutch) that it will carry out an investigation into the role of the Dutch intelligence & security services AIVD (general) and MIVD (military) in decision-making concerning flight route safety. This follows the MH17 disaster of July 2014. The remainder of this post consists of an unofficial translation of the CTIVD’s announcement.
Announcement of investigation into role of AIVD and MIVD in decision-making concerning flight route safety
In a letter of November 21st 2014, the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Defense have requested the Dutch Review Committee on the Intelligence & Security Services (CTIVD) to investigate the role of the intelligence & security services AIVD and the MIVD in the decision-making concerning safety of flight routes. The Dutch Safety Board has requested the Ministers to commission the CTIVD to start an investigation.
The letter states that following the crash of flight MH17 of Malaysia Airlines of July 17th 2014, the Dutch Safety Board is investigating, among others, the decision-making concerning the establishment of flight routes. During this investigation, three research questions emerged concerning the AIVD and MIVD.
These research questions are:
- What is the formal structure between the AIVD and MIVD and the parties relevant to aviation safety, such as airlines, air traffic control and the Ministries concerning information sharing on threats to safety?
- What are the specific activities carried out by the AIVD and MIVD in exchanging information with parties relevant to aviation?
- What information did the AIVD and MIVD have about the safety situation in Eastern Ukraine prior to the crash of the MH17, and to what extent did they share the information with parties relevant to aviation safety? What were the considerations to share, or not to share?
The CTIVD decided it will meet the request of the Ministers. Different than usual according to the Dutch Intelligence & Security Act of 2002 (Wiv2002), the CTIVD will report its findings directly to the Dutch Safety Board. This has been requested by the Ministers. In accordance with the CTIVD’s method of investigation, the CTIVD strives to deliver its report during the spring of 2015. The Dutch Safety Board will publish its own findings together with the CTIVD’s findings.
This announcement accompanies a letter (.pdf, in Dutch) sent by the CTIVD to Parliament, and the letter (.pdf, in Dutch) sent by the Ministers to the CTIVD. Neither document contains information beyond what is presented in the above translation.
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