[News] Andy Hill - Shoreham Air disaster pilot still not interviewed

[Bozza]

Watching tonight's episode of Britain's Ultimate Pilots prompted me to see what had happened to Andy Hill, the pilot involved in the Shoreham Airshow disaster.

First I learned, from a month ago, that he was out of hospital and possibly as long as 7 weeks ago: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...go-emerges-police-not-spoken-fatal-crash.html

Then that even as recently as last week, it seems he still has not been interviewed by police: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/61...and-to-know-why-police-have-yet-to-quiz-pilot

All seems quite bizarre that some form of discussions have not taken place yet.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I think it is because he was put into an induced coma following the accident, which will have affected his memory.

 

[Hillian1]

The pilots union have closed ranks, they claim the physical injuries have healed but the mental ones have not.

Bugger the relatives.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I have no idea of the facts as to why he hasn't and won't be guessing

 

[Kosmonaut]

I suspect perhaps his solicitor(s) or shoreham airport's may have been doing as much as possible to delay/obstruct.

 

[Don Tmatter]

Was he aware people had died before being attempted to be questioned?

 

[Notters]

Blimey, this was mentioned on the news and the radio about 17 times in the hour and a half that I watched / listened on Monday.

Also they kept stating "the relatives are angry " but all the ones they interviewed just said "not much they can do if he's not up to being interviewed."

 

[drew]

I very much doubt that it is because he is refusing to talk. Must be some medical reasons.

 

[Da Man Clay]

Was he aware people had died before being attempted to be questioned?

Wouldn't have even contemplated questioning him whilst he was in hospital, so, undoubtably yes. Doesn't seem he's declined in anyway from that story though.

 

[wellquickwoody]

I do wonder if the 'old boys' network have somewhat closed ranks and have advised him to delay commenting for as long as possible, and no doubt he is still affected (I will not use the BS term traumatised) by what has happened. But the investigating agencies have a DUTY to get as many answers as possible for the victims families as soon as is possible.

Let's be honest about this, the man is no doubt racked with guilt, fear, doubt, sadness and possibly has suicidal thoughts, he is only human after all. Perhaps Sussex Police should declare athat he will not be prosecuted as it will serve no purpose whatsoever and that may bring the chance of an interview to the fore. Either way, the relatives deserve to know the truth as soon as is possible.

 

[Easy 10]

My dad, a retired RAF engineer who has worked for many years on that very aircraft (the Hawker Hunter), took one look at the footage and said (in his opinion) the pilot screwed up. Started the loop way too low for the conditions - no clouds, clear and warm conditions = less air traction for the aircraft to pull up. Not unlike a cricket ball - cloud cover and cooler conditions means thicker air and more traction for swing, and the same principles apply. On that day there was no cloud at all, warm clear conditions, and so thinner air - pilots are supposed to allow for that. Its an OPINION, not fact of course, but from the footage, that aircraft was pulling up (ie no engine failure), but way too late. A catastrophic misjudgement, cutting the margins too fine.

Quite apart from the fact that performing a loop-the-loop along the path of a major dual carriageway does not seem to be the most sensible of manoeuvres. His testimony will be interesting.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I'm not sure it is a good idea to discuss this on NSC where the deceased are known, by posters. I'm sure there will be a thorough investigation in time, and anything else is speculation.

 

[Harry H]

Princess Dianas bodyguard is STILL suffering from memory loss all these years later.

 

[Giraffe]

He has been through a massively traumatic event, just come out of a coma, and possibly has memory issues. Not really a surprise it's taking a while to get to the truth.

 

[The Fifth Column]

Have the police stated if he is accused of committing a criminal offence? If not they will be limited in their scope to officially interview him without arresting him and will be reliant on him agreeing to be voluntarily interviewed. If he has good legal advisors which I am sure he has then they will almost certainly be doing their job correctly in ensuring he is absolutely fit to be interviewed before that happens. No-one on here has any intimate professional knowledge of his condition or the effect on him of the trauma of being thrown from a crashing aircraft so I think its a bit foolish for anyone to speculate on his fitness to be spoken to. I don't suspect the police are planning to arrest him at this stage so they are very much reliant on waiting for his legal team saying when they feel he is fit to be interviewed.

 

[8ace]

Despite knowing f*ck all about medicine or aircraft accident investigation, I feel the need to offer some half-arsed opinion about this subject.

 

[Lenny Rider]

If he's not adequately insured does the compensation issue then revert back to the Airshow organisers?

 

[severnside gull]

Perhaps Sussex Police should declare that he will not be prosecuted

Why on earth would they do that before they have the facts?

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

I am not sure this subject is really suitable for a thread to be honest.

 

[drew]

Out of interest, the police might not have spoken to him as it could be that it is not their responsibility to do so. The Air Accident Investigation Branch are the ones investigating.