AIR SHOW PILOT: I’M INNOCENT
Horror crash pleas
A JET pilot accused of killing 11 people in a horror crash at the Shoreham Air Show in 2015 says he will plead not guilty to their manslaughter.
Andrew Hill was performing a loop-the-loop stunt when his 60-year-old Hawker Hunter crashed on to the A27 close to Shoreham Airport in West Sussex.
The plane hit the road and burst into flames, sending deadly debris flying in all directions. As well as the 11 fatalities, 13 people were seriously injured.
The RAF-trained instructor was thrown from the veteran aircraft on impact and was left in a coma with “very serious injuries”.
Hill appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London yesterday charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of recklessly or negligently endangering an aircraft.
Simon Ringrose, prosecuting, told the court: “During the course of a loop manoeuvre the aircraft failed to achieve sufficient speed and height to complete the downward part of the loop.
“The aircraft impacted on the dual carriageway, causing 11 fatalities to men either in cars, on the road or in the vicinity.”
The victims included wedding chauffeur Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton, retired engineer James Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes, and Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23.
Hill, 54, of Sandon, Herts, was remanded on bail to appear at the Old Bailey on May 17.
The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks.
Manslaughter by gross negligence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.