Who is Andy Hill? Shoreham Airshow disaster crash pilot found not guilty for manslaughter over deaths
Hill has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws
ELEVEN people who flocked to Shoreham Airport to enjoy a stunning display on August 22, 2015, lost their lives after pilot Andy Hill crashed.
He was found not guilty of manslaughter after standing trial - but who is he? Here's what we know about the airman.
Who is Andy Hill, Shoreham Airshow pilot?
Andy Hill is well known for his aerobatic and airshow display flying.
The 54-year-old of Sandon, Herts, joined the RAF in 1985, after university, gaining his wings in 1987.
He went on to become a civilian pilot, flying the Airbus A340 and Boeing 757 before becoming an Airbus captain.
Mr Hill built an RV-8 display aircraft with his wife Ellie, over a period of two years.
Hill was performing an acrobatics display at the Shoreham Airshow, which is now classed as one of Britain's worst airshow disaster.
His vintage single-seater Hawker Hunter jet failed to pull out of a loop-the-loop stunt during the airshow, according to an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report.
Hill miraculously survived the crash after he was dragged from the burning plane, moments before it burst into a huge fireball.
An AAIB investigation into the tragedy found that the speed at which the 1955 Hawker Hunter entered the manoeuvre was too low and it failed to use maximum thrust.
The severity of the outcome was found to be due to the "absence of provisions" to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the airshow organisers.
What was he charged with?
Last year the CPS announced that they would be pursuing charges against the pilot after several years of investigations.
On April 19, 2018, Hill appeared in Westminster Magistrates' Court for the first time.
He stood trial charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws.
On March 8, Hill was found not guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.
The verdict was unanimous.
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Who were the victims of the Shoreham Airshow crash?
- Matt Jones, 24
- Matthew Grimstone, 23
- Jacob Schilt, 23
- Maurice Abrahams, 76
- Richard Smith, 26
- Dylan Archer, 42
- Mark Reeves, 53
- Tony Brightwell, 53
- Mark Trussler, 54
- Daniele Polito, 23
- Graham Mallinson, 72
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