The UK government has initiated an independent inquiry into the devastating migrant boat incident that claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including a pregnant woman and three children, in the English Channel on November 24, 2021. The inquiry, announced by Transport Secretary Mark Harper, aims to provide clarity to the victims’ families regarding the circumstances of the tragedy.
The move follows a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which identified shortcomings in the UK’s emergency response. The lack of dedicated aircraft for aerial surveillance over the Dover Strait hindered the coastguard’s ability to assess the number of boats in distress and their locations on that fateful night.
