A decade after one of the deadliest airshow disasters in recent UK history, families of the victims are still waiting for closure.
The Shoreham Airshow crash in August 2015 claimed 11 lives, leaving a lasting scar on the West Sussex community.
Yet the pilot at the center of the tragedy, former RAF and British Airways airman Andy Hill, has refused to apologise.
The Crash That Shook West Sussex
On that fateful day, Hill’s jet erupted in a fiery explosion on the A27 during the Shoreham Airshow.
The crash killed 11 people, including 23-year-old Jacob Schilt and his friend Matt Grimstone, who were driving to an away football match.
The horrific impact left Hill severely injured and hospitalised, while families were left to mourn and grapple with the sudden loss of their loved ones.
Legal Battles and Licence Revocation
Hill’s pilot licence was revoked by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following the disaster.
Over the past decade, he has fought repeatedly to regain it.
Earlier this year, his final legal challenge—a Judicial Review at the High Court—was refused, months after an unsuccessful appeal in London.
The CAA confirmed that Hill’s licences would remain formally revoked, noting the tragedy’s devastating consequences.
No Remorse Shown, Families Speak Out
Despite the severity of the crash and the subsequent legal rulings, Hill has declined to make any public statements.
A spokesperson told The Mirror: “Mr Hill does not want to make any public statement about the tragic events of Shoreham.”
Families affected by the disaster continue to voice their frustration.
Anthony Mallinson, whose father James was killed in the crash, expressed the longing for acknowledgment: “Hill hasn’t let anything drop, and so there hasn’t really been that sort of time frame where we could grieve properly. In the ten years since, it’s been all about him.
It would be very nice for him to acknowledge us properly.”
Caroline Schilt, whose son Jacob died in the crash, described Hill’s ongoing legal battles as a source of prolonged pain: “Whether he is aware that his late challenges cause the families the ultimate pain as he prolongs the legal process cannot be proved.
However, it certainly feels like a personal vendetta.
Hill has never accepted any form of responsibility for killing 11 men as a result of his diabolical flying.
He has never shown any remorse and we don’t believe he ever will.”
Coroner’s Findings and Trial Outcome
Hill was cleared of manslaughter by gross negligence following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2019.
However, a 2022 inquest ruled that the crash occurred “as a result of the manner in which [his plane] was flown,” according to senior coroner Penelope Schofield.
While Hill’s lawyers have argued that the CAA’s decisions were influenced by public reaction rather than purely technical considerations, the pilot has remained unable to resume flying in the UK since the crash.
Remembering the Victims
The tragedy left an indelible mark on the Shoreham community.
Young lives, like Jacob and Matt, were cut tragically short, and families continue to seek acknowledgment and closure from Hill.
The CAA echoed its condolences, stating, “The thoughts of everyone at the UK Civil Aviation Authority remain with those affected by the tragic crash.”
Even ten years on, the absence of an apology from Hill keeps the wound fresh for those who lost loved ones, highlighting the enduring impact of the Shoreham disaster on families, friends, and the wider community.
