The pilot of an aircraft which crashed and killed 11 people has been charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Andrew Hill, 53, was at the controls of the vintage 1955 Hawker Hunter jet when he lost control during a manoeuvre over the A27 on August 22, 2015 during Shoreham Airshow.

The CPS tonight announced at a meeting alongside police and the families of victims that Mr Hill was being charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by negligence and a further charge of endangering an aircraft, contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.

The aircraft crashed on the road killing 11 and injuring 13 people. Mr Hill was critically injured in the dramatic crash.

The reviewing lawyer, Simon Ringrose from the CPS Special Crime Division said: "Sussex Police conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into the incident and in November 2017 submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS in relation to the actions of the pilot, Andrew Hill.</s>The pilot whose plane crashed in the Shoreham Airshow disaster, killing 11 men, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

Andrew Hill also faces allegations of endangerment of an aircraft under air navigation laws after the vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex at 1.22pm on August 22 2015.</s>A pilot is to be charged with manslaughter over the Shoreham Airshow disaster, in which 11 people died, prosecutors have said. Andrew Hill, 53, of Standon in Hertfordshire, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced. A total of 11 men died when a Hawker Hunter aircraft crashed at the Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex on August 22, 2015.

All those killed were either in vehicles on the road or watching the display. Hill was seriously injured in the crash, after being thrown from the plane, but survived. In November, police submitted a file to the CPS to consider whether to charge him over the incident.

Announcing the decision to charge Hill on Wednesday, CPS lawyer Simon Ringrose said the pilot had tried to “perform a loop manoeuvre” as part of the airshow’s acrobatics but the plane “failed to complete the manoeuvre and crashed onto the A27 dual carriageway”. He added: “In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have considered whether there is sufficient evidence to charge Mr Hill with any offence and if so whether it is in the public interest to do so. “Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died. “I have also authorised a further charge against Mr Hill of endangering an aircraft, contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.” Ringrose announced the charging decision at a private meeting with the families of those who were killed in Lewes. Hill is due to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 19.</s>(Reuters) - A pilot whose vintage fighter jet crashed into a busy road in southern England in 2015, killing 11 people, has been charged with manslaughter, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The pilot Andrew Hill was performing an acrobatics display at the Shoreham Airshow when the crash occurred, the third - and by far the most deadly - at the event since 2007.

The Hawker Hunter plane, of a type developed by Britain in the 1950s, struck several cars on the major road next to Shoreham airport near Brighton, where the show was taking place.

Hill was seriously injured but survived. Eleven people, some of them in their cars or on the roadside, were killed.

“Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died,”

Simon Ringrose, the reviewing lawyer, was cited as saying by in a statement from Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service.

He said Hill would also be charged with endangering an aircraft and would appear before the courts "in due course". bit.ly/2IDRYsh

The crash prompted Britain to announce new safety restrictions on airshows.</s>The pilot whose plane crashed in the Shoreham Airshow disaster, killing 11 men, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

Andrew Hill also faces allegations of endangerment of an aircraft under air navigation laws after the vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted onto the A27 in West Sussex at 1:22pm on 22 August 2015.

The 1950s fighter bomber failed to pull out of a loop-the-loop and crashed in a fireball.

Hill, a trained Royal Air Force instructor and fast jet pilot, was thrown clear of the aircraft but taken to hospital with serious injuries and placed into an induced coma before being discharged.

Simon Ringrose, of the CPS special crime division, announced the news to families of the victims at a private meeting in Lewes, East Sussex, on Wednesday evening.

In a statement he said: “Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died.”</s>THE pilot whose plane crashed in the Shoreham Airshow disaster, killing 11 men, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.

Andrew Hill, whose vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex at 1.22pm on August 22, 2015, also faces allegations of endangerment of an aircraft under navigation laws.

A trained Royal Air Force instructor and fast jet pilot, Hill was thrown clear of his 1950s fighter bomber in the accident – which resulted in a fireball after a failed loop-the-loop.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and placed into an induced coma before being discharged.

The action now being taken against him comes after an announcement was made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to families of the disaster’s victims, at a private meeting in Lewes, East Sussex, yesterday.

In a statement Simon Ringrose, of the CPS special crime division, said: ‘Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died.

‘I have also authorised a further charge against Mr Hill of endangering an aircraft, contrary to article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.’

It is understood Hill, 54, was informed of the charges by phone and will be formally notified by post, as he is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 19.

He will be charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence – an offence which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment – and one count of endangering an aircraft, which can incur a jail term of up to five years, the CPS said.

Mr Ringrose added: ‘Sussex Police conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into the incident and in November 2017 submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS in relation to the actions of the pilot.

‘In accordance with the code for crown prosecutors, I have considered whether there is sufficient evidence to charge Mr Hill with any offence and if so whether it is in the public interest to do so.’

The news came on the same day the CPS announced it was the first national public body to sign up to the Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy, which pledges transparency and sensitivity with those who lose loved ones in major disasters.

Hill was questioned for the first time by police in December, 2015, under caution after voluntarily attending an interview but was not arrested.

A pre-inquest review is due to take place on Monday and the full inquest was expected to take place in September.

This will now be postponed until the criminal proceedings are concluded.</s>The pilot who crashed his plane killing 11 men at the Shoreham Airshow will be charged with manslaughter.

Andrew Hill’s vintage 1950s plane plummeted onto the A27 in West Sussex on August 22, 2015.

The crash was the result of a failed loop-the-loop that began far too low and ended with bomber plane hitting the road and turning into a fireball.

Hill, a trained RAF instructor and fast jet pilot, was thrown clear of the aircraft but survived the crash with serious injuries.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced the news to families of the victims at a private meeting in Lewes, East Sussex.

In a statement, the CPS said: ‘Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died.

‘I have also authorised a further charge against Mr Hill of endangering an aircraft, contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.’

There was no sign of Hill at his country home in Sandon, Hertfordshire, on Wednesday but he was informed of the charges.

Hill, who turns 54 on Thursday, is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 19.

He will be charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and one count of endangering an aircraft, which can incur a jail term of up to five years, the CPS said.

Mr Ringrose added: ‘Sussex Police conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into the incident and in November 2017 submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS in relation to the actions of the pilot.

‘In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have considered whether there is sufficient evidence to charge Mr Hill with any offence and if so whether it is in the public interest to do so.’

The news comes on the same day the CPS announced it was the first national public body to sign up to the Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy, which pledges to be open with those who lose loved ones in major disasters and to treat them in a sensitive manner.

Hill was questioned for the first time by police in December 2015 under caution after voluntarily attending an interview but was not arrested.

A pre-inquest review is due to take place on Monday and the full inquest was expected to take place in September.

 This will now be postponed until the criminal proceedings are concluded.</s>A pilot who flew at the Cotswold Air Show is facing criminal charges as a result of the Shoreham Air Show crash, which killed 11 people.

Andrew Hill, 53, will be charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, and endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced, the Mirror reports.

Hill worked for Ultimate High, a stunt flying team which was based at Cotswold Airport until 2012 and flew in a display at the 2011 Cotswold Air Show.

During his display at Shoreham in 2015, his Hawker Hunter jet crashed into the A27 on August 22, 2015, sending a fireball across the busy West Sussex road.

The then 52-year-old was performing a loop-the-loop stunt when the crash happened. He was seriously injured but survived the tragedy.

In a statement this evening, families of those killed welcomed news of the charge, more that two-and-a-half years after the crash.

The victims were Maurice Abrahams, 76, Dylan Archer, 42, Tony Brightwell, 53, Matthew Grimstone, 23, Matt Jones, 24, Graham Mallinson, 72, Daniele Polito, 23, Mark Reeves, 53, Jacob Schilt, 23, Richard Smith, 26, and Mark Trussler, 54.

Simon Ringrose, of the CPS special crime division, announced the news to families of the victims at a private meeting in Lewes, East Sussex, on Wednesday evening.

In a statement he said: "Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Andrew Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died.

"I have also authorised a further charge against Mr Hill of endangering an aircraft, contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009."

There was no sign of Hill at his country home in Sandon, Hertfordshire, on Wednesday but the Press Association understands he was informed of the charges by phone and will be formally notified by post.

Hill, who turns 54 on Thursday, is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 19.

He will be charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and one count of endangering an aircraft, which can incur a jail term of up to five years, the CPS said.

Hill was questioned for the first time by police in December 2015 under caution after voluntarily attending an interview but was not arrested.

A pre-inquest review is due to take place on Monday and the full inquest was expected to take place in September.

This will now be postponed until the criminal proceedings are concluded.

James Healy-Pratt, Partner and Head of Aviation at law firm Stewarts, speaking on behalf of families bereaved by the Shoreham Air Show crash, said: “Eleven innocent victims lost their lives at the Shoreham Airshow in the Summer of 2015. The Official Aviation Safety Investigation has revealed a catalogue of failures and identified a chain of causes, that resulted in the worst British aviation disaster this century.

“Whilst it is widely accepted that air safety is not improved by either a blame culture or criminal prosecution, the important concept of a Just Culture remains.

"‘Just Culture’ is where front-line operators and others are not punished for actions, omissions or decisions taken by them which are commensurate with their experience and training, but where gross negligence, wilful violations and destructive acts are not tolerated.

“The decision to charge the pilot Andy Hill is consistent with just culture as understood in the aviation world.

"This also means that the Coroner’s Inquest will be adjourned pending the outcome of that criminal process, and that the Families will have to wait until 2019 until there is a realistic chance of closure of all these judicial processes.”</s>A pilot whose aircraft crashed during the Shoreham Airshow and killed 11 people will be charged with manslaughter, according to the CPS.

Andy Hill, from Sandon, Hertfordshire, will also be formally charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft.

Police and prosecutors met families of victims of the disaster on Wednesday evening to confirm that the pilot is now facing criminal charges.

Eleven men died when the vintage Hawker Hunter aircraft came down onto the busy A27 in West Sussex when Mr Hill attempted a loop manoeuvre on 22 August 2015.

Simon Ringrose, CPS specialist prosecutor, said: "Following a careful review of the evidence I have found there is sufficient evidence to charge Mr Hill with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the eleven men who died.

"I have also authorised a further charge against Mr Hill of endangering an air craft, contrary to Article 127 of the Air Navigation Order 2009."

Mr Hill, who turns 54 on Thursday, is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 19.

He will be charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and one count of endangering an aircraft, which can incur a jail term of up to five years, the CPS said.



An earlier investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found a series of pilot errors caused the crash.

The final report by the AAIB found that Mr Hill failed to gain enough height to complete the "bent loop" manoeuvre he attempted moments before crashing.

It would have been possible for him to abandon the manoeuvre, but it was concluded that Mr Hill either deemed it unnecessary or did not know how to pull out.

Mr Hill survived the crash after being thrown clear from the plane. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and placed in a medically induced coma. He was discharged from hospital the following month after recovering.

Mr Hill received flying training with the RAF and served as an instructor and fast jet pilot before going into commercial aviation.

He was authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority to fly the Hawker Hunter in displays and was issued with a medical certificate in January 2015, which was valid for 12 months.

The AAIB report said: "The pilot had not received formal training to escape from the accident manoeuvre in a Hunter and had not had his competence to do so assessed.

"He had not practised the technique for escaping from the accident manoeuvre in a Hunter, and did not know the minimum speed from which an escape manoeuvre could be carried out successfully".

The report also found the plane was not supposed to have been performing its display over the A27, but instead over the airfield.

The error meant that event organisers had no control over where the plane came down.

An interim report by the AAIB had found that the Shoreham organisers were unaware of Mr Hill's display plans before his jet crashed.

A risk assessment had been carried out, identifying that crowds often gathered on the A27.

However, the assessment was not fit for purpose and did not consider which particular aircraft would be displaying and the people most likely to be at risk.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the Civil Aviation Authority grounded all Hawker Hunter aircraft and restricted other vintage jets flying over land to performing fly-pasts only.

The distance between display lines and crowds was also increased.</s>Shoreham Crash Pilot To Be Charged With Manslaughter

The pilot of the plane which crashed at the Shoreham Air Show is going to be charged with Manslaughter according to Sussex Police.

53-year-old Andrew Hill was the pilot of the Hawker Hunter jet that crashed at the Shoreham Air Show on the 22nd of August 2015.

11 men died on that day when the plane hit the A27.

Sussex Police now say Mr Hill of Standon Road, Standon, Buntingdord, Hertfordshire will face criminal charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service say he will be charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 11 men who died and he's also accused of endangering an aircraft, contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.

He will be formally charged with the offences and appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 19th.

Police say specialist officers will keep supporting the families and friends of those who died.
The Crown Prosecution Service charges pilot Andrew Hill with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of endangering an aircraft over an accident at Shoreham Airshow in England.