Originally Posted by
Thoughtful_Flyer
Yes and yes.
Normally six years (five if it had happened in Scotland)!
Different rules apply and a civil case is decided on the balance of probabilities. But, just because a tragedy happened and people died doesn't automatically mean that somebody must be liable.
In effect any case would be dealt with by the pilot's and the show organiser's insurance companies. They would weigh the cost of reaching a settlement against the costs and risks of defending the case. It would have little if anything to do with "guilt" but sadly some other posters' seem unable to understand that.
Liability, guilt, it's all the same in the court of public opinion.
Of course pilot error was found to be the cause in the official enquiry. Also, the inquest found that all the victims were unlawfully killed. There's no statute of limitations on capital crimes. And, putting aside civil action, anyone can bring a private prosecution against an individual for a criminal offence, within certain criteria.