Nine years on from the catastrophic Shoreham Airshow disaster that claimed 11 lives, the raw pain and search for answers continue for the grieving families. Tony Brightwell, 54, was one of the innocent victims, tragically killed when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted onto the A27 during a display.
His son, James Brightwell, has bravely spoken out on the anniversary, revealing the family's enduring heartbreak and fury. He brands the tragedy 'entirely preventable,' pointing to a series of alleged safety failures that culminated in the UK's worst airshow accident in decades.
'We are still living with the consequences every single day,' James states, his words heavy with the weight of nearly a decade without his father. 'The grief changes shape, but it never goes away. What makes it so much harder to bear is knowing that this did not need to happen.'
A Long Wait for Answers
The families of the victims have endured a gruelling and protracted wait for accountability. The initial inquest was suspended to allow for a criminal trial, where pilot Andrew Hill was acquitted of manslaughter charges.
Now, a fresh inquest is poised to begin, offering a renewed, and final, opportunity to establish the full, factual circumstances that led to the devastating crash. For James and the other families, this represents a critical last chance for closure and truth.
A Preventable Tragedy?
Central to the families' anguish is the firm belief that the disaster could have been avoided. James's criticism extends beyond the pilot to the broader airshow safety culture and regulations in place at the time.
'There were multiple points of failure,' he asserts. 'Questions about the aircraft's airworthiness, the complexity of the manoeuvre being attempted over a busy road, and the overall risk assessment. We need to ensure that lessons are learned so that no other family has to suffer this same nightmare.'
As the new inquest prepares to open, the words of a grieving son serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of the disaster. The quest for answers in Shoreham continues, driven by a love that endures beyond tragedy and a unwavering demand for change.
