Key events following Shoreham Airshow disaster
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The 11 men who died following a plane crash at the Shoreham Airshow in 2015 were unlawfully killed, a coroner has concluded.
The inquest into the disaster concluded on Tuesday, more than seven years after a vintage jet crashed on to the A27 motorway during an aerobatic display.
Here is a timeline of key dates following the incident:
2015
– August 22: A Hawker Hunter plane piloted by Andrew Hill crashes on to the A27 as he attempts a “bent loop” aerobatic manoeuvre at the Shoreham Airshow. Eleven people are killed and 13 more are injured.
– September 2: The inquest into the 11 deaths opens.
2017
– March: An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report concludes the crash could have been avoided and was caused by pilot error when Mr Hill began the manoeuvre too low to the ground and that the plane’s entry speed and thrust were too low.
2018
– The inquest is adjourned due to the upcoming criminal trial of Mr Hill. He faces 11 charges of manslaughter by gross negligence in March, pleading not guilty on May 15.
2019
– Mr Hill’s trial begins in January. He is found not guilty of all charges in March.
– The inquest resumes following the conclusion of the criminal trial.
2020
– September: Inquest hearings scheduled to begin this month are postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2021
– April 26: Senior coroner Penelope Schofield applies to the High Court for access to material from the criminal trial of Mr Hill. This material has protected status under air accident investigation regulations.
2022
– February: The full inquest, which is set to begin this month, is postponed.
– February 4: The High Court refuses Ms Schofield’s application for access to the cockpit video of the crash flight and other material from the criminal trial of the pilot.
– September: A pre-inquest review is held in County Hall, Horsham. Mr Hill requests a verdict of unlawful killing is ruled out, which Ms Schofield declines.
– December 1: The full inquest into the 11 deaths begins and coroner Ms Schofield apologies to the families for their long wait.
– December 20: The inquest ends with coroner Ms Schofield concluding they were unlawfully killed.
