Tri-Service
Shoreham Crash Pilot Involved In Previous Airshow Incident
It's emerged that the pilot of the jet which crashed at Shoreham Airshow last year was involved in an incident at a separate airshow in 2014.
Andy Hill was thrown free from the Hawker Hunter aircraft he was flying in August, but 11 others were killed. He was interviewed by police in December, but no arrests have yet been made.
Sussex Police have told the relatives of those killed that they are now investigating an incident at the Southport Airshow in 2014, however, where a vintage jet is believed to have flown too low.
George Bacon, a former RAF officer and Army Air Corps pilot who saw service in Northern Ireland, Europe, Canada and the Gulf, was commentating at Southport Airshow on the day in question.
Maj (Retd) Bacon, who is also a Civil Aviation Authority-accredited air accident investigator, told Forces TV:
"I observed as commentator, an 'occurrence' [rather than the more serious 'incident'] during the display which, although deemed not to have caused immediate danger, was of sufficient concern for the flight director to halt the display."
"The pilot was de-briefed and a report submitted to the CAA by the Flight Director.
"A number of issues may cause any pilot to 'deviate' from the specific 'lines' of regulated flight: ie, weather, wind direction and strength, visibility, distraction by a technical issue, birds, or perhaps sighting of another 'intruder' aircraft nearby."
He added that Mr Hill was "hugely experienced, modest, professional and well-respected", and that he had entertained thousands of people across the UK over 10 years or so prior to Shoreham.
Det Ch Insp Paul Rymarz, meanwhile, said the police are aware of the Southport Airshow incident. He said:
"This incident forms a line of inquiry in our wider investigation. All the families are aware of our interest in this incident."
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it was aware of the incident, and had been informed of the police investigation. He said:
"The CAA continues to support the police and AAIB with their investigations."
He added that the CAA took appropriate action at the time in conjunction with the show's organisers.
Asked for his thoughts on the future for airshows in the UK, Maj (Retd) Bacon said:
"The CAA has already published its 'Action' review. The industry will adapt to appropriate recommendations made by the CAA, particularly the content and location of each event which will be subject to greater degrees of scrutiny and risk assessment.
"Airshows remain the second most popular spectator event in UK after football, attracting regular annual attendances of six million people and underpin wide national business activity."
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