Shoreham air disaster pilot still not interviewed, police say

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Andy HillImage source, PA
Image caption,

Pilot Andy Hill was thrown from the Hawker Hunter jet when it crashed

The pilot of the jet which crashed during the Shoreham Air Show, killing 11 people, has still not been questioned, police have revealed.

Andy Hill was discharged from an undisclosed specialist hospital earlier this month.

Sussex Police said they had still not interviewed him but were looking to do so "as soon as possible".

Mr Hill was thrown clear of the plane after it crashed on the A27 on 22 August.

An initial report by The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found there were "no abnormal indications" during its flight, external.

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

The crash site was littered with wreckage from the jet

It said cockpit cameras showed the 1950s Hawker Hunter jet was responding to the pilot's controls.

The jet split into four parts and both Mr Hill and his seat were thrown clear of the cockpit.

It is not clear whether he initiated his ejection.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "We have not interviewed the pilot yet, but are looking to do so as soon as possible."

The victims:

Image source, BBC/Sussex Police/Facebook
Image caption,

(Top row, left to right) Matt Jones, Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt, Maurice Abrahams, Richard Smith. (Bottom row, left to right) Mark Reeves, Tony Brightwell, Mark Trussler, Daniele Polito, Dylan Archer, Graham Mallinson

  • Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer

  • Matthew Grimstone, 23, a Worthing United footballer who worked as a groundsman at Brighton & Hove Albion

  • Jacob Schilt, also 23 and also a Worthing United player, was travelling to a match with Mr Grimstone

  • Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton, was a chauffeur on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day

  • Friends Richard Smith, 26, and Dylan Archer, 42, who were going for a bike ride on the South Downs

  • Mark Reeves, 53, had ridden his motorcycle to the perimeter of Shoreham Airport to take photos of the planes

  • Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove was an aircraft enthusiast and had learnt to fly at Shoreham airfield

  • Mark Trussler, 54, is thought to have been riding his motorcycle on the A27

  • Daniele Polito was travelling in the same car as Mr Jones

  • Graham Mallinson, 72, from Newick, was a keen photographer and retired engineer

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