Andrew Hill, the pilot of a vintage Hawker Hunter jet that crashed at the Shoreham airshow in 2015, killing 11 men, has been found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. The verdict, delivered at the Old Bailey after seven hours of jury deliberation, has left victims' relatives expressing deep disappointment.
Hill, 54, a former British Airways captain and RAF flying instructor, told the court he experienced cognitive impairment due to hypoxia, possibly caused by G-force, and had no memory of the crash. The prosecution argued he was flying too low and too slow during a bent loop manoeuvre, but the jury accepted that he may have been incapacitated.
Families of the deceased wept as the unanimous verdicts were read. The judge, Mr Justice Edis, acknowledged their distress and praised their dignity throughout the two-month trial. Outside court, Hill read out the names of the 11 victims and said he was 'truly sorry for the part I played in their deaths.'
Relatives criticised the outcome, with Matthew Grimstone's parents calling it an alarming precedent for airshows. Leslye Polito, mother of victim Daniele, said she felt let down by the justice system. The families have called for a thorough investigation and for the Shoreham airshow not to be held again.
The crash occurred on 22 August 2015 when the 1950s jet struck the A27 road, killing five people in vehicles and six on a grass verge. Hill was seriously injured but survived. All Hawker Hunter jets were grounded after the incident, and regulations were tightened to limit some displays to flypasts.
