BREAKING NEWS: Shoreham Airshow crash investigators make 14 safety recommendations

An interim report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), published this afternoon, detailed 14 improvements for future airshows around the country.

The special bulletin heavily focused on risk assessments, noting preparations for the Shoreham event ‘did not show the range of hazards presented by different display aircraft’ and ‘did not consider specifically where the hazards would occur’.

The report also states that organisers and police did not have legal powers to prevent people gathering outside the airfield, near where the crash occurred.

The crash claimed the lives of 11 people, when experienced pilot Andy Hill’s vintage Hawker Hunter jet hit the A27.

The report read: “The risk assessment for the 2015 Shoreham Airshow did not show the range of hazards presented by different display aircraft that formed the display and did not consider specifically where the hazards would occur or who would be exposed to them.

“There was no evidence of an attempt to consider either a hierarchy of protection or control.

“It did not provide detailed guidance on the conduct of risk assessments in relation to flying.”

The report refers to a previous display, in 2014, where the same aircraft performed most aerobatic manoeuvres over areas accessible to the public, outside the control of organisers.

During that display, the aircraft flew over residential areas several times, performing one manoeuvre over Lancing at an angle of bank over 90 degrees.

The report adds: “The pilot was not instructed to stop this display. Either these regulatory infringements were not detected by the display organisers or were not understood.”

More follows.