Shoreham Airshow crash: Victims' families caused 'unnecessary distress' by inquest delays

Delays to the Shoreham Airshow crash inquest are causing "unnecessary distress" to the victims' families, a coroner has said.

Former RAF pilot Andrew Hill crashed a Hawker Hunter into the A27 in West Sussex, which killed 11 men on August 22 2015.

He was cleared of 11 charges of manslaughter by gross negligence earlier this year.

Preparations are now under way for the inquests into the victims' deaths.

During a preliminary hearing on Monday it emerged the Air Accident Investigations Branch may reopen its own probe into the crash.

Senior coroner Penelope Schofield, who will oversee the inquest, criticised delays and said the AAIB's rethink, which could affect the inquest, was only brought to light on Friday.

The AAIB may decide to assess whether cognitive impairment was a factor in the tragedy - a key feature of Mr Hill's defence in the criminal trial.

Delays were "clearly causing unnecessary distress for the families and it's having a clear effect in the community of West Sussex", the coroner said.

"There was no way that the families or any other properly interested persons could have taken instructions over the weekend," she added.

She said the coroner's office has received enquiries from members of the public on an "almost weekly basis" about the inquest.

"Those who can influence the process of this inquest, I would like you to heed that," Ms Schofield said.

She told family members who were present that she sensed "the frustration that this matter is still going on" and promised to try and speed up proceedings.

Gerard Forlin QC, who represents the majority of the victims' relatives, said the AAIB would be "having another bite at the cherry" and was "potentially emasculating" the coroner's procedure.

"There are planes flying now in air shows where this (cognitive impairment) could still be a factor," he said.

Mr Forlin added: "I don't think, and my families don't think, there is any chance at all this (the inquest) is going to happen in January."

He said families preferred to wait longer for the inquest if it meant having a proper investigation.

The hearing was told cognitive impairment "has become a major issue for this inquest and for flying displays".

The coroner scheduled another preliminary hearing for November 29, adding: "Properly interested persons appear to want to await the outcome of the AAIB investigation."

She said a decision about whether a jury will be used would also be made after the AAIB's decision, which is expected to become clear in August.

Its initial report found the crash could have been avoided and was caused by pilot error when Mr Hill flew too low and too slowly while carrying out the manoeuvre.

He was placed into an induced coma after being thrown clear of the burning wreckage.

An inquiry by the Civil Aviation Authority is also ongoing.