Shoreham air crash pilot drops bid to challenge inquest's findings

Andrew Hill has been refused permission by the High Court

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 2nd Jun 2023

The pilot of a plane which killed 11 men when it crashed during the Shoreham Airshow has dropped his bid to challenge the findings of an inquest into the deaths.

The Hawker Hunter flown by Andrew Hill plummeted on to the A27 during an aerial display at the show on August 22nd, 2015.

On December 20th last year, West Sussex senior coroner Penelope Schofield made her conclusion of unlawful killing months after denying a request from Mr Hill to rule out the verdict in advance.

Mr Hill, who survived the crash and says he has no memory of it, had applied for a judicial review into the conclusion.

A spokesman for the West Sussex, Brighton and Hove coroner's service said:

"Further to the High Court's decision to refuse permission for Mr Hill to proceed with the judicial review, Mr Hill has now advised that he will not be making a request for an oral hearing to challenge that decision."

11 men died following the crash in August 2015.

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham who was present at the conclusion of the inquest, described the decision to appeal as "cruel and insensitive beyond words".

He added:

"After more than seven years' patient and dignified wait for closure after the Shoreham Airshow tragedy, the news that the coroner's verdict is to be challenged will come as a body blow to the families of the victims."

Mr Hill was charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence but, after a trial, was found not guilty in March 2019.

Ms Schofield said although she recorded a narrative verdict of unlawful killing, it did not "detract from the fact" of Mr Hill's acquittal in a criminal court.

However, she told the court it was "clear and obvious" Mr Hill should have abandoned the manoeuvre he was undertaking, adding: "This was not a close or difficult judgment call."

Although Mr Hill attended the inquest several times after it began on November 30 2022, he was not present for Ms Schofield's conclusion.

The 11 victims were Anthony Brightwell, 53, from Hove; Daniele Polito, 23, from Goring-by-Sea; Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton; Jacob Schilt, 23, from Brighton; James Mallinson, 72, from Newick; Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford; Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing; Matthew Grimstone, 23, from Brighton; Matthew Jones, 24, from Littlehampton; Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton; and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove.

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