What happened
On 22 August 2015, a Hawker Hunter T7, registration G-BXFI, was performing during a private flying display at Shoreham Airport, West Sussex. During the performance, the aircraft executed a manoeuvre involving both a roll and a vertical component, reaching an inverted position at the peak of the movement. As the aircraft descended, it failed to recover to level flight and subsequently struck the westbound carriageway of the A27. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and caused 11 fatalities among people on the ground, while the pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the safety management of the 2015 Shoreham Airshow, focusing on risk assessments and regulatory oversight. Investigators reviewed the event plan and the role of the Flying Display Director (FDD). The probe also looked into the CAA's oversight of display permissions and the adequacy of separation distances between aircraft and spectators. Evidence from the 2014 season was also reviewed, which showed the aircraft had previously flown over congested areas in violation of its Permit to Fly.
Findings
- The risk assessment for the event failed to account for the specific range of hazards presented by different aircraft types and did not consider the hierarchy of protection for various groups of people.
- There was a lack of specific information provided to the organiser regarding the pilot's intended sequence of manoeuvres and the precise ground area for the performance.
- The aircraft's flight path brought it into proximity with public areas, and the lack of coordination regarding secondary's presence on the roadside contributed to the tragedy.
- Existing regulations regarding the separation of spectators from the airfield perimeter were insufficient to prevent the tragedy in this instance.