THE inquest into the deaths of 11 men in the Shoreham Airshow crash has been postponed again until next year - almost seven years after the disaster.

The inquest, which had been scheduled for this October after a year's delay because of Covid-19, is now set to begin next February.

Senior coroner for West Sussex Penelope Schofield said the delay was due to the need for a High Court hearing first, which cannot take place until the autumn due to the pressures on the Court service amid the pandemic.

At the pre-inquest review hearing held in April, the coroner ruled she would now be making an application to the High Court to formally request permission to access certain “protected material” used in the criminal trial to assist her with the investigation.

The Argus: The jet crashed on to the A27, killing 11 menThe jet crashed on to the A27, killing 11 men

The families of the 11 men who died have been informed and the coroner has provisionally secured a new date from Monday, February 2 until Friday, March 18, 2022.

Ms Schofield said: “It is with regret that I have had to further postpone the inquest due to take place in October this year.

"However, it is not possible to continue with the inquest until the outcome of my application to the High Court is known."

The 11 men died when a Hawker Hunter jet crashed on a busy dual carriageway during a display at the Shoreham Airshow on Saturday August 22, 2015.

An Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) report published in 2017 found the crash could have been avoided and was caused by error when pilot Andy Hill flew too low and too slowly performing a loop manoeuvre.

The Argus: A memorial bench and 11 individually crafted arches sit alongside the River Adur to remember those who lost their lives in the Shoreham Airshow DisasterA memorial bench and 11 individually crafted arches sit alongside the River Adur to remember those who lost their lives in the Shoreham Airshow Disaster

Mr Hill was cleared of manslaughter by gross negligence following a lengthy trial at the Old Bailey in March 2019.

He claimed he had not been in full control of his actions when he attempted the fatal loop manoeuvre over the A27, saying he experienced cognitive impairment due to the G-force in his jet.

However a Civil Aviation Authority report concluded in December there was "no evidence" the pilot would have been at risk of cognitive impairment.

Families of the crash victims have previously requested that Go-Pro footage from the plane is used at the inquest.

The 11 men who died were:

Maurice Rex Abrahams, 76, of Brighton;

Dylan Archer, 42, of Brighton;

Anthony David Brightwell, 53, of Hove;

Matthew Grimstone, 23, of Brighton;

Matthew Wesley Jones, 24, of Littlehampton;

James Graham Mallinson, 72, of Newick;

Daniele Gaetano Polito, 23, of Goring;

Mark Alexander Reeves, 53, of Seaford;

Jacob Henry Schilt, 23, of Brighton;

Richard Jonathan Smith, 26 of Hove;

Mark James Trussler, 54, of Worthing.

The coroner has ruled the inquest will be heard without a jury.