Date set for full inquest into the deaths of the Shoreham Airshow crash victims

The inquest into the death of 11 men killed in the Shoreham Airshow Crash will take place in September, a coroner has said.

They were killed when the Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the A27 near Shoreham Airport while performing a loop-the-loop manoeuvre.

The pilot, Andrew Hill, was found not guilty of manslaughter in March last year.

Relatives joined lawyers at Crawley Coroners Court in what they see as the next step in their search for answers.

The Coroner ruled that she will look into the full facts of the crash, including whether allowing people to stand on the A27 to watch the airshow was a factor.

Some of the families had asked for the inquest to be held in front of the jury, but the coroner decided that this would not be necessary, as she would be able to deliver detailed findings of fact and a reasoned conclusion.

There have been several lengthy delays before a date for a full inquest was established, because of court proceedings and the inquiry into the crash by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The pilot, Andrew Hill, was found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, as a jury decided he had suffered cognitive impairment while flying the plane because of G-force.

The full inquest will begin on 14th September 2020 and is expected to last 6 weeks.