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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/22/hawker-hunter-plane-crash-shoreham-air-show-reports
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| Shoreham plane crash: seven dead after fighter jet hits cars during air show | Shoreham plane crash: seven dead after fighter jet hits cars during air show |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Seven people have been killed after a fighter jet taking part in the Shoreham air show crashed on to a road on Saturday afternoon. | Seven people have been killed after a fighter jet taking part in the Shoreham air show crashed on to a road on Saturday afternoon. |
| Sussex police said the aircraft hit four cars on the A27 just north of Shoreham airport, where the Royal Air Forces Association air show was being held. | Sussex police said the aircraft hit four cars on the A27 just north of Shoreham airport, where the Royal Air Forces Association air show was being held. |
| South-East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said seven people were declared dead at the scene, while one patient with life-threatening injuries was taken to the Royal Sussex County hospital. A further 14 patients were treated for minor injuries. | South-East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said seven people were declared dead at the scene, while one patient with life-threatening injuries was taken to the Royal Sussex County hospital. A further 14 patients were treated for minor injuries. |
| The hospital said it was put on alert for a major incident at 2pm. “The aircraft ended up in a bush. There have been several casualties, but we have no further information on these at the moment,” the spokesman said. | The hospital said it was put on alert for a major incident at 2pm. “The aircraft ended up in a bush. There have been several casualties, but we have no further information on these at the moment,” the spokesman said. |
| The A27 remains closed in both directions and drivers have been told to avoid the area. The interchange at Lancing is also closed. | The A27 remains closed in both directions and drivers have been told to avoid the area. The interchange at Lancing is also closed. |
| The plane involved – a Hawker Hunter single-seat fighter jet – was attempting a loop manoeuvre, but failed to pull out. One eyewitness said the pilot did not eject before the plane hit the ground. | The plane involved – a Hawker Hunter single-seat fighter jet – was attempting a loop manoeuvre, but failed to pull out. One eyewitness said the pilot did not eject before the plane hit the ground. |
| A friend was really close. Has lots of pictures. So very sad #Shoreham pic.twitter.com/QvLhynWNyv | A friend was really close. Has lots of pictures. So very sad #Shoreham pic.twitter.com/QvLhynWNyv |
| The Hawker Hunter was listed in the air show programme as being flown by former RAF Harrier pilot Andy ‘Hilz’ Hill, whose day job is as an Airbus captain for a major airline. Hill, who is well known for his aerobatic and air show display work, is described by those in the industry as a very experienced formation instructor and display pilot. | |
| Dom Lawson was driving on the A27 when the jet crashed. “If I’d been 20 seconds faster I would not be having this conversation,” he told the Guardian. | Dom Lawson was driving on the A27 when the jet crashed. “If I’d been 20 seconds faster I would not be having this conversation,” he told the Guardian. |
| He described how the plane passed just a few metres above his car with a deafening roar before slamming into the ground in a fireball five or six vehicles in front. | He described how the plane passed just a few metres above his car with a deafening roar before slamming into the ground in a fireball five or six vehicles in front. |
| Lawson said he saw at least two cars on fire, but added that the incident could have been much worse if traffic lights at a nearby junction had not been red. | Lawson said he saw at least two cars on fire, but added that the incident could have been much worse if traffic lights at a nearby junction had not been red. |
| BREAKING The plane apparently crashed on the a27 #Shoreham Airshow http://t.co/PEYE8ivUcd pic.twitter.com/YVfWzZD4eM | BREAKING The plane apparently crashed on the a27 #Shoreham Airshow http://t.co/PEYE8ivUcd pic.twitter.com/YVfWzZD4eM |
| Lucy Pearce, head of content at the Brighton Argus, was at the air show. “We were watching the display but we did not have a good view. All of a sudden there were all these gasps and screams and everyone jumped up. Then there was masses of smoke,” she told the Argus. | Lucy Pearce, head of content at the Brighton Argus, was at the air show. “We were watching the display but we did not have a good view. All of a sudden there were all these gasps and screams and everyone jumped up. Then there was masses of smoke,” she told the Argus. |
| Thousands of spectators are unable to leave the airport because the A27 has been closed. “People are milling around and looking at the exhibits … resigned to the fact that they cannot leave at the moment,” said Pearce. | Thousands of spectators are unable to leave the airport because the A27 has been closed. “People are milling around and looking at the exhibits … resigned to the fact that they cannot leave at the moment,” said Pearce. |
| To those being held at @shorehamairshow, thank you for your patience. We will update you when we can. #Shoreham | To those being held at @shorehamairshow, thank you for your patience. We will update you when we can. #Shoreham |
| An Air Accidents Investigation Branch spokesman said it will be deploying a team to investigate. | An Air Accidents Investigation Branch spokesman said it will be deploying a team to investigate. |
| The Hawker Hunter has crashed at #Shoreham. This is a truly awful scene. pic.twitter.com/MZ1i55qLNA | The Hawker Hunter has crashed at #Shoreham. This is a truly awful scene. pic.twitter.com/MZ1i55qLNA |
| Laura Raymond, a presenter for Splash FM, said a couple of planes were taking part in a jet display when one appeared to fly too close to the ground before onlookers saw a “huge ball of fire and black smoke”. | Laura Raymond, a presenter for Splash FM, said a couple of planes were taking part in a jet display when one appeared to fly too close to the ground before onlookers saw a “huge ball of fire and black smoke”. |
| She told Sky News: “The Hawker Hunter T-7 display was under way. Within seconds we were thinking, ‘gosh, that plane is going rather low’. There was a ball of fire, we didn’t even hear an impact, and then plumes of black smoke.” It is the second tragic incident at the air show in recent years. In September 2007, James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain. | She told Sky News: “The Hawker Hunter T-7 display was under way. Within seconds we were thinking, ‘gosh, that plane is going rather low’. There was a ball of fire, we didn’t even hear an impact, and then plumes of black smoke.” It is the second tragic incident at the air show in recent years. In September 2007, James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain. |
| Drivers on the A27 at the time of the incident tweeted pictures of the scene: | Drivers on the A27 at the time of the incident tweeted pictures of the scene: |
| So a plane just crashed right in front of me RIP pic.twitter.com/9mUxhKNSXa | So a plane just crashed right in front of me RIP pic.twitter.com/9mUxhKNSXa |
| Another tweeted: | Another tweeted: |
| Bloody hell just nearly got caught up in crash at #shoreham air show plane landed on road just as we were driving past! | Bloody hell just nearly got caught up in crash at #shoreham air show plane landed on road just as we were driving past! |
| On 1 August, Kevin Whyman was killed when the plane he was flying as part of the Gnat display team crashed near the CarFest in Cheshire. | On 1 August, Kevin Whyman was killed when the plane he was flying as part of the Gnat display team crashed near the CarFest in Cheshire. |
| The event was created by TV and radio presenter Chris Evans to support BBC Children in Need. | The event was created by TV and radio presenter Chris Evans to support BBC Children in Need. |