Shoreham air crash pilot appears in court for first time charged with manslaughter over 11 deaths

The pilot whose plane crashed during the Shoreham Airshow disaster, killing 11 men, has appeared in court for the first time to indicate not-guilty pleas over the tragedy.

Andrew Hill faces 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws.

The 54-year-old, of Sandon, Hertfordshire, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court for a 14-minute hearing on Thursday morning at which he confirmed his name, date of birth and address, and indicated a not-guilty plea to all charges.

He will be expected to formally enter pleas at the Old Bailey next month.

The crash occurred when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex during a loop-the-loop stunt at the Shoreham Airshow on August 22, 2015.

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

The 11 men who died were: wedding chauffeur Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton; retired engineer James Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes; window cleaner and builder Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing; cycling friends Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton, and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove; NHS manager Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove; grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford; Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23; personal trainer Matt Jones, 24; and Daniele Polito, 23, from Worthing.

Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot released Mr Hill on bail until his next appearance at the Old Bailey next month.

The trial is due to last up to eight weeks.