The pilot whose plane crashed during the Shoreham Air Show disaster, killing 11 men, has indicated he will plead not guilty to charges of manslaughter.

Andrew Hill, 54, of Sandon, Hertfordshire, faces 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws.

He appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court for a 14-minute hearing during which he confirmed his name, date of birth and address, and indicated a not-guilty plea to all charges.

He will be expected to formally enter pleas at the Old Bailey next month.

The crash occurred when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet plummeted on to the A27 in West Sussex during a loop-the-loop stunt at the Shoreham Airshow on August 22, 2015.

Simon Spence, defending, told the court that his client was no longer flying.

Video Loading
Andrew Hill faces 11 charges of manslaughter in connection to the 2015 air show disaster (
Image:
PA)
Emergency services working on the A27 at Shoreham where the plane crashed, killing 11 men (
Image:
PA)
11 men were killed in the disaster at West Sussex (
Image:
PA)
The horror crash killed 11 people in August 2015 (
Image:
Sunday Mirror)
Video Loading

The 11 men who died were: wedding chauffeur Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton; retired engineer James Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes; window cleaner and builder Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing; cycling friends Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton, and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove; NHS manager Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove; grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford; Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23; personal trainer Matt Jones, 24; and Daniele Polito, 23, from Worthing.

Hill, a trained Royal Air Force instructor and fast jet pilot, was thrown clear of the aircraft and rushed to hospital with serious injuries where he was placed in an induced coma before being discharged.

As the first charge of manslaughter was put to Hill following a delay, he told the court: "I'm sorry, for various reasons I don't know anything about the charges."

After taking instruction, he indicated not-guilty pleas.

Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot released Hill - who wore a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie - on bail.

The trial is due to last up to eight weeks.