THE pilot accused of killing 11 people in the Shoreham air disaster has indicated he will plead not guilty.
Andrew Hill, 54, faces 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws after a plane crashed in a failed loop-the-loop stunt.
Hill, of Sandon, Hertfordshire, this morning indicated at Westminster Magistrates' Court he would be pleading not guilty to the charges.
In a 14-minute hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot released him on bail until his next appearance at the Old Bailey next month.
The crash happened when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex during a loop-the-loop stunt at the Shoreham Airshow on August 22, 2015.
RAF instructor Hill was thrown clear of the aircraft in the crash but survived after suffering serious injuries.
Maurice Abrahams, 76, Graham Mallinson, 72, Mark Trussler, 54, Mark Reeves, and Anthony Brightwell, both 53, Dylan Archer, 46, Richard Smith, 26, Matt Jones, 24, and Daniele Polito, Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, all 23, were all killed.
An Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation into the tragedy earlier 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 air show organisers.
A number of safety recommendations were made by the AAIB to the Civil Aviation Authority over improving air show safety.
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The CPS last year announced that they would be pursuing charges against the pilot after several years of investigations.
Phil and Sue Grimstone, parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said: “We are pleased a decision has finally been made and we hope the criminal process will progress swiftly so that the inquest can commence."
An inquest into the disaster was expected to take place in September last year, but will now be postponed until criminal proceedings are concluded.
A date for a further court hearing is yet to be set.
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