New Footage Surfaces In Trial Of 2015 Crash That Killed 11
Photo Credit: Sunday Mirror
Four years after the horrific crash during the Shoreham airshow, new footage surfaced which was taken from the ground. In the aftermath, 11 people on the road lost their lives, the pilot being thrown out of the aircraft in his ejection seat and nearly getting killed himself.
The Crash
In 2015, the annual Shoreham Airshow was going according to schedule. During the opening part of the event, a 50s era jet fighter, the Hawker Hunter T7, was to perform its typical routine. Manned by Andy Hill who witnesses called an experienced pilot with over 12,000 flight hours on his resume, both in military and commercial settings.
Right before the crash, Hill performed a low pass next to the crowd and was to exit with an inside loop. The maneuver is typically started at 500 feet off the ground but Hill pulled up from 200 feet leaving “no room for misjudgment” according to an expert.
Hill was unable to complete the loop and regain altitude at the end of the maneuver, crashing into the A27, a busy road in Shoreham. The aircraft broke apart into four pieces and whipped out cars on the road, the jet fuel spilling out and causing a massive fireball to erupt.
Hill survived the crash but was in critical condition for a time, however, 11 motorists were killed and 16 others injured.
The Trial
As with any aircraft crash, the appropriate authorities started an investigation into the crash. Both federal and local authorities investigated the crash trying to decide whether Hill should be prosecuted. It was unclear if the crash was due to human error or a malfunctioning aircraft.
It took nearly three years to gather all the evidence and on April, 19th, 2018, Hill was indicted and entered the plea of not guilty, putting forward a defense of being “disabled by g-forces” during the maneuver.
The prosecution disagrees, stating Hill displayed a “‘cavalier attitude’ to safety and played ‘fast and loose’ (being) with the rules.”
New Evidence
In the latest development in the trial, on January 15th, 2019, the jury was shown the footage below which was not previously released to the media. You can see the ITV News report below.
