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Shoreham plane crash: Seven dead after Hawker Hunter hits cars | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Seven people have died after a Hawker Hunter jet crashed into several vehicles during Shoreham Airshow. | |
South East Coast Ambulance Service said the victims all died at the scene, with a further person being taken to hospital in critical condition. | |
The plane crashed on the nearby A27 in West Sussex. The road is likely to remain closed for several hours. | |
Eyewitnesses said the plane was performing a loop but did not complete the manoeuvre and crashed. | |
Stephen Jones, who saw the crash, said: "The aeroplane involved is a Hawker Hunter T mark 7. And he'd just begun his flying display. | |
Read the latest updates on the crash | Read the latest updates on the crash |
"He'd gone up into a loop and as he was coming out of the loop I just thought, you're too low, you're too low, pull up. | "He'd gone up into a loop and as he was coming out of the loop I just thought, you're too low, you're too low, pull up. |
"And he flew straight into the ground either on or very close to the A27, which runs past the airport." | "And he flew straight into the ground either on or very close to the A27, which runs past the airport." |
A spokesman for the Royal Sussex County Hospital said two men had been taken to the hospital, one in a critical condition and the other with minor injuries. Ten other casualties are being treated at the scene. | A spokesman for the Royal Sussex County Hospital said two men had been taken to the hospital, one in a critical condition and the other with minor injuries. Ten other casualties are being treated at the scene. |
Ailish Southall, who was driving along the A27 with her two children, said the plane came down close to them. | |
"We were waiting for it to go back up and it didn't - it seemed to kind of split in two," she said. | |
"There were huge amounts of fire and we ran from the car to kind of avoid the debris because we were about 15 metres away, we were just across the road from where the accident happened." | |
Another eyewitness, tweeting as Jon B, said: "It (the plane) turned from the north by Lancing College, went to go low towards the airfield and went behind some trees below where I was. | |
"Then there was a crunch sound and a ball of flames and thick black smoke came up from the ground." | "Then there was a crunch sound and a ball of flames and thick black smoke came up from the ground." |
At the scene | At the scene |
BBC Sussex reporter Simon Jenkins | BBC Sussex reporter Simon Jenkins |
I'm standing on the middle of the A27 and it's deserted. | I'm standing on the middle of the A27 and it's deserted. |
The police are taking no chances whatsoever. I've been asked to move back in case of any further explosions. | The police are taking no chances whatsoever. I've been asked to move back in case of any further explosions. |
I've been speaking to people and they are absolutely stunned. The plane seems to have stalled mid manoeuvre and came crashing down on the A27. | I've been speaking to people and they are absolutely stunned. The plane seems to have stalled mid manoeuvre and came crashing down on the A27. |
The acrid smell and thick black smoke has just been fanning across the area and the skies are completely quiet. | The acrid smell and thick black smoke has just been fanning across the area and the skies are completely quiet. |
Shoreham Airshow also tweeted: "There has been a major incident outside the airfield boundary. | Shoreham Airshow also tweeted: "There has been a major incident outside the airfield boundary. |
"The emergency services are responding. Updates will follow when available." | "The emergency services are responding. Updates will follow when available." |
In a statement police said: "At about 1.20pm the aircraft hit several cars on the A27 just to the north of Shoreham Airport, where an air display is taking place. | In a statement police said: "At about 1.20pm the aircraft hit several cars on the A27 just to the north of Shoreham Airport, where an air display is taking place. |
"The aircraft ended up in a bush. There have been several casualties but we have no further information on these at the moment." | "The aircraft ended up in a bush. There have been several casualties but we have no further information on these at the moment." |
An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) spokesman said: "The AAIB is aware of the incident and we will be deploying a team to investigate." | An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) spokesman said: "The AAIB is aware of the incident and we will be deploying a team to investigate." |
It is the second incident at the Shoreham Airshow in recent years. In September 2007 James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a World War Two Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain. | It is the second incident at the Shoreham Airshow in recent years. In September 2007 James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a World War Two Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain. |
Hawker Hunter | Hawker Hunter |
The Hawker Hunter was a mainstay of the RAF through the 1950s and early 1960s. | The Hawker Hunter was a mainstay of the RAF through the 1950s and early 1960s. |
First flown in 1951, the single-seat plane was used as a fighter, fighter-bomber for reconnaissance and for aerobatics. | First flown in 1951, the single-seat plane was used as a fighter, fighter-bomber for reconnaissance and for aerobatics. |
There was also a two-seat trainer version, which served with many other air forces. Two-seater variants are still used by the RAF for training. | There was also a two-seat trainer version, which served with many other air forces. Two-seater variants are still used by the RAF for training. |
The Hunter Hawker was deployed in major operations such as Malaya and Suez. | The Hunter Hawker was deployed in major operations such as Malaya and Suez. |
The plane was also flown by an RAF display team dubbed the "Black Arrows". | The plane was also flown by an RAF display team dubbed the "Black Arrows". |
Are you in area? Did you witness the crash? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. | Are you in area? Did you witness the crash? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |