Pilot to face ‘manslaughter’ charges in connection with Shoreham disaster
Eleven men died as a result of the tragedy when a vintage jet plunged onto a major road.
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 onto the A27 in West Sussex at 1.22pm on August 22 2015.
The crash occurred after the 1950s fighter bomber failed to pull out of a loop-the-loop and crashed into a fireball.
Simon Ringrose, of the CPS special crime division, announced the news to families of the victims at a private meeting in Lewes, East Sussex, on Wednesday evening.
In a statement he said: “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.”
Hill, who turns 54 on Thursday, is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 19.
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.
A pre-inquest review is due to take place on Monday and the full inquest was expected to take place in September.
This will now be postponed until the criminal proceedings are concluded.
