Airshow disaster pilot to be charged

THE pilot whose plane crashed in the Shoreham Airshow disaster, killing 11 men, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.

Andrew Hill also faces allegations of endangerment of an aircraft under air navigation laws after the vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex on August 22 2015.

The crash happened after the 1950s fighter bomber failed to pull out of a loop and crashed into a fireball.

Hill, a trained Royal Air Force instructor and fast jet pilot, was thrown clear of the aircraft but was taken to hospital with serious injuries and placed into an induced coma before being discharged.

Simon Ringrose, of the CPS special crime division, announced the news to families of the victims at a private meeting in Lewes, East Sussex, yesterday.

He said in a statement: “Following a careful review of the evidence, I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died.

“I have also authorised a further charge against Mr Hill of endangering an aircraft, contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.”

There was no sign of Hill at his country home in Sandon, Hertfordshire, yesterday but it is understood he was informed of the charges by phone and will be formally notified by post.

The 54-year-old is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 19.

He will be charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and one count of endangering an aircraft, which can incur a jail term of up to five years, the CPS said.

Mr Ringrose added: “Sussex Police conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into the incident and in November 2017 submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS in relation to the actions of the pilot.

“In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have considered whether there is sufficient evidence to charge Mr Hill with any offence and if so whether it is in the public interest to do so.”

Hill was questioned for the first time by police in December 2015 under caution after voluntarily attending an interview but was not arrested.

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