Release date: 15 July 2019
A decision on when to hold the inquest into the deaths of 11 people who died following the Shoreham Airshow crash in 2015 has been delayed.
At the pre-inquest review hearing held today at Crawley Coroner’s Court, Coroner Penelope Schofield advised the families that it was not possible to fix the inquest hearing dates. She explained there had been recent correspondence from the Government Legal Service indicating that the AAIB was now considering whether to reopen its investigation into this air crash.
The Coroner advised that the AAIB would be confirming its position on 2 August 2019.
Should there be a further investigation by AAIB this may cause the inquest to be delayed until the later part of 2020.
The Coroner is aware of the delay and in particular that we are approaching the fourth anniversary of the crash.
West Sussex Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield told the families: “I do appreciate that this is a very difficult time for you and I will do everything I can to get the inquest listed as soon as possible. However we are very much in the hands of the AAIB and the decision that they make.”
A further pre inquest will be held later in the year.
The 11 men who died in the air crash were:
Maurice Rex Abrahams, 76 of Brighton
Dylan Archer, 42 of Brighton
Anthony David Brightwell, 53 of Hove
Matthew Grimstone, 23 of Brighton
Matthew Wesley Jones, 24 of Littlehampton
James Graham Mallinson, 72 of Newick
Daniele Gaetano Polito, 23 of Goring by Sea
Mark Alexander Reeves, 53 of Seaford
Jacob Henry Schilt, 23 of Brighton
Richard Jonathan Smith, 26 of Hove
Mark James Trussler, 54 of Worthing.
They were killed when a Hawker Hunter jet crashed during a display at the Shoreham Airshow on Saturday 22 August 2015.
