Shoreham Airshow Crash: Pilot Denies He Was In Control Of Aircraft

Andrew Hill was the pilot flying the jet which crashed at Shoreham Airshow in August 2015 (Picture: PA).

A pilot has denied accusations he was alert and in control of the plane that crashed at Shoreham Airshow, killing 11 men.

Trained Royal Air Force instructor Andrew Hill was cross-examined in his trial at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The 1950s Hawker Hunter fighter jet plunged to the ground and exploded in a fireball on the A27 in West Sussex after Mr Hill attempted a "bent loop" during a display on August 22, 2015.

The 54-year-old, of Sandon, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, denies 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Mr Hill claims he had "cognitive impairment" at the time of the crash and does not remember the events leading up to it.

Prosecutor Tom Kark QC suggested the way the aircraft was flown was "extremely dangerous" and it was "appalling flying" if Mr Hill "had not been cognitively impaired" at the time.

Mr Hill disagreed with the use of the word "appalling" but described the manner in which he flew the plane as "strange and anomalous".

Jurors were told cockpit footage showed Hill "nod" twice and slightly move his right shoulder as if looking at and operating the controls as the plane climbed into the sky shortly before descending and crashing.

This video was shown alongside a recording of a similar display in 2014, also at Shoreham, in which Mr Kark said the movements Hill made were "remarkably similar".

Mr Hill disputed this, saying there was a "significant difference" between the two flights and the movements he made during the 2015 display were "strange".

Mr Kark said: "I suggest it isn't strange at all."

He told the court the video seemed to show Mr Hill looking around and carrying out checks.

Mr Kark added: "You're clearly looking around at the terrain below your aircraft."

Mr Hill replied: "I have no idea what I'm doing on this occasion."

Mr Kark said there did not seem to be any "involuntary movement", adding: "All of this time you are deliberately controlling the aircraft aren't you?"

Andrew Hill said there did not seem to be "any sensible control movements" made while he was in the plane.

He told the court at one point in the flight the cockpit video seems to show him sitting back in his seat and looking "curiously relaxed" and "rather casual".

Mr Hill has never seen the moment of the crash, which was captured on camera, and does not watch videos shown in court beyond a certain point.

He told the jury he had never practised that particular display at that site before the crash, although he had tested it out at another airfield beforehand and had carried out a similar formation at Shoreham a year before.

During re-examination, Andrew Hill told the court he always wanted feedback from more experienced pilots, who he invited to watch and critique his displays.

Jurors have been told Mr Hill passed medical checks before the crash.

Tests and scans afterwards did not show any sign of a medical condition - including cognitive impairment - which may have affected his health leading up to the crash, the court heard.

The trial continues.