AAIB publishes Shoreham Aircraft Accident Report
Above: This video is intended to help visualise the aircraft’s final manoeuvre. The images shown are not a precise depiction of the aircraft’s behaviour at all stages of the flight. The video is not a summary of the final report, which includes other information about the circumstances of the accident and the reasons for the severity of the outcome.
Aircraft Accident Report 1/2017 concerns the accident to Hawker Hunter, G-BXFI which crashed on to the A27, Shoreham Bypass near Shoreham Airport during air display at 1222 UTC (1322 BST) on 22 August 2015.
The Hawker Hunter vintage aircraft crashed while performing at the Shoreham Airshow, fatally injuring 11 road users and bystanders. Another 13 people - one of which was the pilot - sustained other injuries.
Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The thoughts of those at the CAA remain with the families and friends of everyone affected by this terrible tragedy at this difficult time.
“This was the first fatal air show accident involving members of the public in the UK for over 60 years. It is therefore essential that everyone involved in the delivery and oversight of air displays now plays their part in learning all the lessons that we can.
“The AAIB has conducted a wide-ranging investigation over 18 months and has produced an extensive final report which clearly identifies the cause of this accident as the aircraft flying too slowly and not reaching the height necessary to complete the loop.
“The CAA acted immediately following the accident in August 2015 carrying out a comprehensive review of civil air show safety and implementing a number of safety enhancements for the 2016 season. An independent, external panel of experts oversaw the review to ensure that all UK civil air displays operate at the very highest safety standards.
“During its investigation, the AAIB published 21 recommendations for the CAA, all of which we have acted on. We are continuing with our programme of introducing further safety enhancements for this year’s flying display season. The final AAIB report contains a further 10 recommendations for the CAA, all of which we will action as a priority.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that all air shows take place safely, for the six million people who attend them each year in the UK and for the communities in which they take place.”
