Shoreham Airshow Disaster: Pilot To Face 'Manslaughter' Charges

The pilot of a plane that crashed in the Shoreham Airshow disaster, in which 11 men died, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.

The crash occurred after the vintage Hawker Hunter jet failed to pull out of a loop.

Andrew Hill also faces allegations of endangerment of an aircraft under air navigation laws after the 1950s fighter-bomber plummeted onto the A27 in West Sussex at 1.22pm on August 22, 2015.

Hill, trained by the RAF as an instructor and fast jet pilot, was thrown clear of the aircraft but 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, 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.

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."

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.