Shoreham Airshow Horror: Pilot Cleared but Eleven Dead
On August 22, 2015, disaster struck the Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex. A Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the busy A27 road during a stunt, killing 11 people and injuring 13 more. Pilot Andrew Hill was later acquitted of manslaughter by gross negligence, but the coroner’s verdict made clear this was no simple accident.
Coroner Slams Pilot’s Flying: “Not a Minor Error”
Senior coroner Penelope Schofield told the inquest in Horsham that the crash was caused by the way Hill flew the plane. “This was not a minor error,” she said. The pilot had two chances to avoid the fatal manoeuvre but failed to do so.
“Eleven innocent lives were cruelly lost, lives that were cut too short. Their families will bear this enormous loss for the rest of their lives.” – Coroner Penelope Schofield
While the coroner recorded a narrative verdict of unlawful killing, she acknowledged Hill’s 2019 criminal acquittal. The former RAF instructor has always maintained he can’t remember the crash. During his trial, Hill claimed he blacked out mid-air due to “cognitive impairment” from hypoxia caused by G-force, but no evidence supported this.
Victims Remembered: Ordinary Lives Shattered
- Matt Jones, 24 – Personal trainer
- Matthew Grimstone, Worthing United footballer and ex-Brighton & Hove Albion groundsman
- Jacob Schilt, 23 – Worthing United player
- Maurice Abrahams, 76 – Chauffeur en route to a wedding
- Richard Smith, 26 & Dylan Archer, 42 – Cycling buddies heading to the South Downs
- Mark Reeves, 53 – Motorcyclist and plane-spotter
- Tony Brightwell, 53 – Shoreham plane enthusiast and pilot
- Mark Trussler, 54 – Last seen riding on A27
- Daniele Polito – Passenger with Matt Jones
- Graham Mallinson, 72 – Retired engineer and photographer
Families still grieve deeply. “This is a huge loss,” said coroner Schofield as tears flowed in the courtroom. Legal reps from Stewarts law firm confirmed they had reached the “end of the road” after seven agonising years of legal battles.
Safety Warnings Ignored?
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found the crash was avoidable. Hill flew too low and too slow during the stunt. The Civil Aviation Authority accepted all 21 safety recommendations from the report. These include tightening rules on display heights and distances between planes and spectators, plus better risk assessments for future airshows.
The Shoreham tragedy is a grim reminder of the dangers lurking behind spectacular aerial displays – and the human cost when things go horribly wrong.
