Cops investigating Shoreham air crash pilot Andy Hill over possible manslaughter charges
Detectives preparing evidence over disaster which killed 11
POLICE have been investigating the Shoreham air crash pilot for manslaughter, it emerged yesterday.
Andy Hill, 52, has also been told he is being probed over endangering lives under strict air navigation laws.
The major twist comes just weeks after grieving relatives slammed police for delays.
Detectives are currently preparing a file of evidence for prosecutors to assess over last August’s air disaster, which killed 11.
Mr Hill was quizzed under caution last December but no details of that interview have emerged until now.
He has not been arrested or charged and could still ultimately face no further action.
But the offences he has been questioned over both carry tough prison sentences — with a manslaughter conviction meaning up to life behind bars.
Mr Hill, from Sandon, Herts, was flying a vintage Hawker Hunter aircraft when it lost control during a loop and smashed into a busy A-road near Shoreham, West Sussex.
Eleven people died in the tragedy and a further 16 were injured.
Mr Hill miraculously survived and was released from hospital a month later.
Since then police have been investigating the disaster.
And today The Sun can also reveal the key issues at the heart of the Sussex Police inquiry.
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They emerged in court papers filed by the force in a bid to force air accident investigators to hand over their findings.
Since January the Air Accident Investigatory Branch (AAIB) has stubbornly refused to cooperate, leading cops to go to the High Court.
A judge will finally hear the case next Thursday after months of delay to the inquest for the victims, bringing fresh heartache for their families.
A copy of the writ, seen by The Sun, confirmed: “Mr Andrew Hill was notified in December 2015 that he is being investigated for possible endangerment pursuant to Article 138 Air Navigation Order 2009 and also manslaughter.”
It also shows lawyers for Sussex Police are demanding the AAIB release ten vital pieces of evidence they are sitting on.
They include Mr Hill’s flight logs, a “human factors” report carried out by RAF experts, AAIB engineer reports and another specialist report into tests done at RAF Scampton into the crash.
Speed calculation analysis of the fatal flight, a flight manual for the aircraft and the Hawker Hunter's GPS system are also requested.
They also want all film footage from the aircraft — and a video of Mr Hill flying at Shoreham in 2014 to compare his flight patterns with the disaster.
The last item demanded by cops are records of Mr Hill’s interviews or “discussions” with the AAIB over recent months.
It is not known if Mr Hill has spoken to AAIB investigators or even made any comment to them.
An interim report by the AAIB in March found that he started his loop hundreds of feet lower than his licence allowed.
It said there were no obvious problems with the plane.