Worthing

FAMILIES of those killed in the Shoreham air disaster have branded pilot Andrew Hill’s attempt to take to the skies again an insult to the victims.

They say Mr Hill, whose 1950s Hawker Hunter burst into a fireball on a dual carriageway in a failed stunt above air show crowds in 2015, should never be allowed near a cockpit again.

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Families of those killed in the Shoreham air disaster have branded Andrew Hill’s attempt to fly again an insult to the victimsCredit: Mirrorpix

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The families say Mr Hill, above, should never be allowed near a cockpit againCredit: Doug Seeburg – The Sun

He is asking the Civil Aviation Authority to reinstate his pilot’s licence.

But Anthony Mallinson, whose dad, retired engineer Graham, 72, was one of 11 to die in the crash, said: “You’d think, out of respect for all of our loved ones lost he would just let this one go now and just draw a line under it. We’re trying to draw a line under it.

“Why is he still continuing to put us through this stress and worry?

“To try and want to fly, knowing how the world sees him as a pilot and what happened, you’d think he’d want to go away into a corner and not be heard of.”

The disaster happened on August 22, 2015, as Mr Hill, now 59, attempted a loop manoeuvre 200ft above the Shoreham air show in West Sussex. Experts said he should have been flying at 500ft or above.

His vintage jet broke into four parts as it crashed on the A27, destroying eight vehicles on the dual carriageway.

A wedding limo driver and two ­Worthing FC footballers were among those to die, while 16 people were injured.

Mr Hill, a former RAF instructor and BA pilot, was badly hurt as he was thrown clear.

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Four years later, he was cleared of manslaughter after he blamed the effects of G-force on his brain.

However, an inquest determined that the victims had been unlawfully killed.

Earlier this year his application for a review of the inquest’s decision was rejected.

Now the makers of a TV documentary, Fatal Flight: Shoreham, have discovered Cambridge-educated Mr Hill is trying to resurrect his flying career.

Relatives say he is just prolonging their agony.

Anthony added: “We were shocked but we weren’t entirely surprised either, knowing the character that he is.

“We all, as a collaborative of families, feel extremely strongly that he never has his pilot’s licence reinstated out of respect for all of us, the families and all of our loved ones lost.

“He shouldn’t be anywhere near a cockpit.”

The CAA is expected to reach a decision early in the new year.

In the documentary, available tomorrow on Discovery+, the victims’ families talk about the devastating effect of the crash.

Phil Grimstone^[1], whose goalkeeper son Matthew^[2], 23, was killed on the way to a game, said it was a struggle to get justice.

He added: “It’s the ninth Christmas without our loved ones, which is bloody hard because Matthew loved Christmas.

“Since then, Christmas is cold. You know? We got a couple of grandkids. So they help a lot.

Mr Hill, who lived near Sandon, Herts, was approached for comment.

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The 1950s Hawker Hunter jet looming over the A27Credit: PA:Press Association

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The jet moments before it burst into a fireball on a dual carriagewayCredit: PA:Press Association

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The 11 victims to die in the horror crashCredit: PA:Press Association

References

1. ^{^} Phil Grimstone (www.thesun.ie)
2. ^{^} Matthew (www.thesun.ie)