Inquest into deaths of 11 men who died in Shoreham Airshow crash due to begin

The parents of Jacob Schilt tell ITV News Meridian's Andy Dickenson they want the 'truth to come out' from inquests

An inquest into the deaths of 11 men at the Shoreham Airshow is to begin seven years after the disaster.

A plane taking part in an aerial display crashed on to the nearby A27 in West Sussex on August 22 2015. Thirteen other people were injured.

The pilot of the Hawker Hunter plane, Andrew Hill, was charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence but found not guilty on all counts in March 2019. He maintains he has no recollection of the crash.

The inquest into the 11 deaths was originally opened on September 2 2015 but was adjourned in 2018 due to the criminal trial of Mr Hill.

The inquests resumed in March 2019 after the trial, but hearings set for September 2020 were adjourned due to the pandemic.

11 people died after the crash during the Shoreham airshow Credit: ITV News Meridian

A pre-inquest review was heard on September 1 where senior coroner Penelope Schofield said the inquest "would not reinvestigate the crash", as this evidence had been provided by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

The full inquest will begin on Wednesday and is set to run until December 20.< Mr Hill will not be called as a witness, having submitted evidence to the investigation. His request at the pre-inquest review for Mrs Schofield to rule out a verdict of unlawful killing was denied.

Shoreham Airshow crash pilot Andrew Hill not guilty of manslaughter

The 11 victims were:

  • Anthony Brightwell, 53, from Hove

  • Daniele Polito, 23, from Goring-by-Sea

  • Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton

  • Jacob Schilt, 23, from Brighton

  • James Mallinson, 72, from Newick

  • Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford

  • Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing

  • Matthew Grimstone, 23, from Brighton

  • Matthew Jones, 24, from Littlehampton

  • Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton

  • Richard Smith, 26, from Hove

Law firm Stewarts is representing seven of the families who lost loved ones in the disaster.

Sarah Stewart, partner in the aviation department, said: "This is the last step in a long road to justice and truth for the families of those killed in the Shoreham Airshow disaster.

"After seven years, they are finally about to get some answers on how this disaster happened.

"The coroner's conclusions will not bring their loved ones back, but there will be some solace in the hope that the findings lead to improved safety in the planning of future air shows."