Shoreham Airshow crash: Pilot to be quizzed

The pilot of the vintage jet that crashed during the Shoreham Airshow, killing 11 people, is set to be questioned by police and investigators.

Emergency workers at the scene of the Shoreham air disaster. Picture: PA

Andrew Hill was left fighting for his life after the Hawker Hunter plane failed to pull out of a loop-the-loop stunt and plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex.

He has reportedly been released from an undisclosed specialist hospital and faces questioning “as soon as possible”.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “The pilot’s condition is improving.

“Police and investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), who are conducting parallel investigations, are looking to interview the pilot as soon as possible.

“We are not permitted to disclose his location as this is a private matter for which we do not have the family’s permission.”

An interim report released by the AAIB found “no abnormal indications” during the Hawker Hunter flight.

Investigators also said cockpit cameras showed the 1950s jet “appeared to be responding to the pilot’s control inputs”.

The victims who died were: wedding chauffeur Maurice Abrahams 76, from Brighton; retired engineer James Graham Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes; window cleaner and general builder Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing; cycling friends Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton, and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove; NHS manager Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove; grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford; Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23; personal trainer Matt Jones, 24; and Daniele Polito, 23, from Worthing.

The inquest into their deaths was opened and adjourned last week by West Sussex senior coroner Penelope Schofield. A pre-inquest review will take place on March 22.