Shoreham Airshow crash pilot NOT originally listed to be flying

Retired RAF pilot Chris Heames was originally listed to fly Hunter Hawker
But he pulled out so he could go on holiday and Andy Hill, 51, stepped in
British Airways captain, 51, smashed into cars on A27 killing up to 20
He has been left fighting for his life in coma after Shoreham Airshow crash

Jenny Awford

and
Martin Robinson for MailOnline

Published:
12:32 GMT, 24 August 2015

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Updated:
13:26 GMT, 24 August 2015

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Retired RAF Squadron Leader Chris Heames was listed on fly the Hunter Hawker jet at Shoreham Airshow on Saturday

The pilot who crashed a fighter jet on to a busy road killing up to 20 people was only flying the Hunter Hawker after swapping with a colleague who had booked a holiday, it has emerged.

Retired RAF Squadron Leader Chris Heames, 62, who was originally listed to fly the jet at Shoreham Airshow on Saturday, has told how he feels lucky to be alive, saying: ‘It could have been me’.

He revealed that he pulled out of the display two months ago so he could go on a family holiday to Cambodia and said Andy Hill stepped in.

But the British Airways captain, 51, has been left fighting for his life in a coma after smashing into a line of cars on the A27 in Britain’s worst air disaster for a generation.

Mr Heames said he returned from holiday today to dozens of calls from people who feared he had died in the crash.

The married father said: ‘I was down to fly until two months ago until I organised a family holiday to Cambodia. I arrived home this morning.

‘I found out about the crash because a number of people texted me while I was away because they were worried about my wellbeing.

‘It could have been me and it could have happened to anybody.’

Mr Heames, from Stamford in Lincolnshire, is one of Britain’s most experienced pilots with more than 13,500 flying hours inlcuding 6,000 in fast jets and 3.500 in gliders.

He said he flew the Hunter Hawker jet at the event last year and said he had no concerns about safety there.

‘It very clear where you have to fly and it’s very carefully planned,’ he said.

‘I flew the same plane at the same event last year and the year before. I have no concerns over safety there.’

This comes as Mr’s Hill’s family revealed that he remains in a critical condition with multiple injuries after the jet exploded in a ‘massive fireball’.

They released a statement saying: ‘Following the tragic events at the Shoreham Air Show on Saturday, the pilot’s family are devastated and deeply saddened for the loss of life, and they send their prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected at this difficult time.

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‘Andrew Hill, remains in critical condition. He has multiple injuries and is in a medically induced coma.

‘His family pay tribute to the emergency services for their highly professional response following the accident and to the medical team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital for the care they are continuing to provide to Andrew.’

British Airways captain Andy Hill, 51, smashed into a line of cars on the A27 after failing to pull up from a loop-the-loop stunt in Britain’s worst air disaster for a generation

Mr Heames had to pull out of the air show as he was on a family holiday to Cambodia and said he returned to dozens of calls from people who feared he had died in the crash

Mr Heames said his thoughts were with Mr Hill’s family and the relatives of those who lost their lives in the crash.

He said: ‘I have known Andy for a long time and I am very sad. It’s tragic that all these people have lost their lives while going about their business.

‘But we should not jump to any conclusions about what happened. We should allow the air accident investigators to carry out their work and I won’t

‘Andy and I are two equally experienced and qualified pilots who have flown this plane many times at airshows.

Three victims have been named and police have warned that the death toll from the Shoreham Airshow disaster is expected to rise

Police warned that the death toll is expected to rise to 20. Pictured, investigators and emergency services at the scene today

Police warned today that the death toll is expected to reach 20 as emergency services used a crane to lift the mangled wreckage of the plane

Pieces of the plane wreckage are set to be transported 50 miles from analysis, pictured is the damaged remains of the fuselage of a Hawker Hunter

Mr Heames, who still trains RAF pilots, will fly the Hawker jet at an upcoming display in Durham.

He said: ‘It is a wonderful piece of British engineering and impeccably maintained.

‘I have spoken to my wife and we have agree that I will carry on flying the plane’

He served with Royal Air Force Germany at Bruggen and returned to the UK as an instructor with at RAF Cottesmore.

The Royal Airforces Association said that the decision to change pilots was ‘entirely routine’ as they shared their air show commitments between them.

The aircraft continued to lose altitude but the pilot seemed to get the jet’s nose pointing up in a desperate attempt to gain height

The jet disappeared behind the tree line as it was just a few feet above the A27 road which was packed with cars at the time

George Bacon, from the British Air Display Association, described Mr Hill as ‘unbelievably experienced’ and said his preparation for air displays was ‘second to none’.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘He was an unbelievably experienced chap. Very, very thorough and professional in the way he prepares for his displays. All pilots are required to undertake training and mentoring before they undertake display flying.

‘The preparation this particular pilot undertook was second to none. I was involved in another event with him just a week ago and he always would call in, as many of them do, to debrief their last display to try and work out whether there was any better way of doing it.

‘I think what we have to do with this is take a step back for a moment, it’s terribly tragic, and give time for the families to try and overcome this awful tragedy and then together we will work within the UK to see if we can find other ways of preventing this ever happening again. It was really quite extraordinary.’