THE inquest into the Shoreham air crash will take place after the trial of pilot Andrew Hill has concluded.

Yesterday, West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield told The Argus: “The inquest is due to take place in the autumn next year.

“We will be able to confirm a date once the criminal trial has finished.”

Ms Schofield said her inquiry would “investigate the circumstances that led to the death of 11 individuals following the crashing of a Hawker Hunter T7 Registration G-BXFI on to the A27 Shoreham bypass whilst performing an air display at the Shoreham Airshow on August 22, 2015”.

The extended scope of the inquest will look at how air shows are licensed, safety measures for spectators and the actions of the pilots.

She indicated that she plans to hold an investigation into how future similar deaths can be prevented.

The inquest would include but not be limited to:

l The licensing, control and safety of all airshows

l The organisation, planning and running of the 2015 Shoreham Airshow

l The safety measures and risk assessment put in place to protect those attending show and those watching from the A27 bypass

l The management and control of the flying display

l The training and experience of pilot Andrew Hill, and

l Hill’s actions on the day.

As well as the families of the victims, other parties with “interested person” status at the inquest include the owners of the Hawker Hunter plane and its operator’s insurers, Royal Air Force Association, flying display director Rod Dean, Air Accident Investigation Branch, Sussex Police and the Civil Aviation Authority.