Something is not right with this investigation.
Why is Andy Hill so protected? If I, as a driver had an accident and killed several people, I would be in prison. Accident or not!
Why are the police denied access to evidence?
My sympathy is with the families of the accident.
What the hell is going on?
The AAIB has to work within the terms of Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 1996 and of the Data Protection Act 1998. Together they prohibit the release of information to the police or coroners without a High Court order.
Thanks Chris and Mikey, maybe a long process due to typical red tape culture of English law.
Chris, I have to admit, I have not read the whole of the pdf in your link.
I have to go to work tomorrow!
Jomfil Mr Gary Hart was driving when he was unfit because he had not slept the night before and so fell asleep while driving. The Land-rover he was driving also had an overweight load on the trailer so he was towing more than the permitted weight. Because of these two factors he was found guilty of causing 'Death by Careless Driving' which has a maximum sentence of 7 years. He pleaded guilty to 'Death by Careless Driving' to avoid being charged with 'Death by Dangerous driving' which has a 15 year max sentence. He served his time at 'North Sea Camp' an 'open' Jail where I was a tutor in the education department and talked to him on several occasions.
If for example he had skidded on mud left on the road and caused the same accident, that would have been just an accident and he would not have been guilty of anything.
Hopkirk, Andy Hill ( who lives just up the road from me) had left the BA job several years before this accident. He was / is one of the UK's most qualified 'display pilots' as well as having a full commercial licence.
He left BA not sacked. I assume he wanted to concentrate on display flying, he actually owned the Hawker Hunter jet he was flying so he can't be short of a bob or two.
"If I, as a driver had an accident and killed several people, I would be in prison. Accident or not!"
No you would not. Not unless your driving (or other behaviour that led to the incident) was negligent, reckless or deliberate.
As Eddie has explained, your comparison to the Great Heck incident is not appropriate (at least not yet because it has not been established whether the pilot's behaviour was negligent, reckless or deliberate).
"The Hawker Hunter that crashed belonged to wealthy Essex businessman Graham Peacock and is usually kept with another historic plane he owns at North Weald Airdrome.
.....
His Hunter had passed through the hands of a number of private owners before he bought it in 2012 after it had been advertised for sale for £65,000.
The advert described the aircraft as "an immaculate two-seater supersonic T7 which is flown on a regular basis, in excellent condition inside and out."