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Shoreham air crash pilot to deny 11 counts of manslaughter, court hears

Pilot: Andrew Hill: Getty Images
Pilot: Andrew Hill: Getty Images

A former RAF pilot accused of killing 11 men when his vintage jet crashed on a dual carriageway during the Shoreham Airshow today indicated he would deny manslaughter charges at trial.

Andrew Hill, 54, was performing a loop when his 1955 Hawker Hunter came down on the A27 in August 2015. Eleven men, including motorists and air show fans, died and 13 people were injured.

Hill, who was badly injured when he was thrown free, has been charged with 11 counts of gross negligence manslaughter and endangering an aircraft.

He indicated not guilty pleas to all charges at Westminster magistrates’ court.

Prosecutor Simon Ringrose said: “The aircraft failed to achieve sufficient height and speed to complete the downward part of the loop, and the aircraft impacted on the dual carriageway, causing 11 fatalities.”

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot freed Hill of Buntingford, Hertfordshire, on unconditional bail until a plea hearing at the Old Bailey on May 17 when a date for the trial will be set.