Shoreham air crash trial: Families of victims tell of devastation as pilot Andrew Hill is acquitted

James Morris8 March 2019

Families of victims who died in the Shoreham air crash have told of their devastation after air show pilot Andrew Hill was acquitted.

Mr Hill had been attempting a loop when his Hawker Hunter jet exploded into a fireball on the A27 in west Sussex in August 2015, killing 11 men.

Responding to the decision, Sue and Phil Grimstone, whose 23-year-old son Matthew was killed as he drove past the airfield, said: “There seems to be no justice for our son Matthew and all 11 men who died in such tragic circumstances.”

Shoreham pilot: I will remember victims for the rest of my life

The couple said the decision set an "alarming precedent" for air shows in general and questioned if displays should be allowed.

They added: "The general public not attending air shows are entitled to expect the highest level of protection, and that certainly did not happen at Shoreham.

"We now look to the forthcoming inquest to question the organisation and regulation of display flying at air shows and in particular Shoreham."

Leslye Polito, who lost her son Daniele in the crash, said: 'I feel let down by the justice system'
John Stillwell/PA

Leslye Polito, who lost her son Daniele in the crash, said: "I feel extremely disappointed, very upset and primarily let down by the justice system when someone who has clearly made some very bad errors of judgment is allowed to walk free."

The plane prior to the crash
PA

Rebecca Smith, from the law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represents 17 people affected by the crash, said the inquest would allow for the wider circumstances to be "fully examined" and lessons to be "fully learned".

She said: "While the criminal trial purely looked into the actions of the pilot involved, the inquest will be able to investigate the wider organisation and planning of the event, including the safety precautions taken, the aircraft involved, location of spectators and the management of the pilots."

Reporting by Press Association.

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