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| Shoreham plane crash: victim's mother urges limits on airshows as 11 feared dead | Shoreham plane crash: victim's mother urges limits on airshows as 11 feared dead |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The mother of a Shoreham airshow disaster victim has called for aerobatic displays to be held over the sea as police warned that the death toll may rise. | The mother of a Shoreham airshow disaster victim has called for aerobatic displays to be held over the sea as police warned that the death toll may rise. |
| Sue Grimstone, whose son Matthew, 23, was killed when a 1950s Hawker Hunter crashed onto a road in West Sussex, joined MPs in calling for a tightening of rules governing flying events to avoid a repeat of the tragedy. | Sue Grimstone, whose son Matthew, 23, was killed when a 1950s Hawker Hunter crashed onto a road in West Sussex, joined MPs in calling for a tightening of rules governing flying events to avoid a repeat of the tragedy. |
| Mrs Grimstone, from Brighton, told the Daily Telegraph her son’s death had been “a waste”, adding: “Airshows should be over the sea. It should never have been over that road.” | Mrs Grimstone, from Brighton, told the Daily Telegraph her son’s death had been “a waste”, adding: “Airshows should be over the sea. It should never have been over that road.” |
| Easington MP Grahame Morris told the Daily Mirror airshows should be “limited to displaying over water”. Fellow Labour MP Graham Stringer, a former chairman of Manchester Airport and member of the Commons Transport Committee, said: “I think when an event like this kills 11 people – and it’s not the first time there have been fatalities at an airshow – there should be a serious look at the regulations with a view to tightening them up.” | Easington MP Grahame Morris told the Daily Mirror airshows should be “limited to displaying over water”. Fellow Labour MP Graham Stringer, a former chairman of Manchester Airport and member of the Commons Transport Committee, said: “I think when an event like this kills 11 people – and it’s not the first time there have been fatalities at an airshow – there should be a serious look at the regulations with a view to tightening them up.” |
| Police have revealed that at least 11 people are feared to have died in the worst British airshow disaster for a generation. | |
| Police are continuing the task of sifting through the wreckage left after the jet crashed into a busy dual carriageway in West Sussex on Saturday, after an attempted loop went wrong. A crane is expected to lift the wreckage of the aircraft on Monday, when police fear more bodies may be discovered. | Police are continuing the task of sifting through the wreckage left after the jet crashed into a busy dual carriageway in West Sussex on Saturday, after an attempted loop went wrong. A crane is expected to lift the wreckage of the aircraft on Monday, when police fear more bodies may be discovered. |
| Two young footballers and a personal trainer have been named among the victims, but anxious family members and friends continue to wait for news of others who have been killed. | Two young footballers and a personal trainer have been named among the victims, but anxious family members and friends continue to wait for news of others who have been killed. |
| Related: Plane's age will not be to blame for Shoreham air show crash, expert claims | Related: Plane's age will not be to blame for Shoreham air show crash, expert claims |
| Sussex police assistant chief constable Steve Barry said there were 11 people they were treating as “highly likely” to have died, but they could not yet formally identify any of the dead. Barry also warned that the death toll could rise further. “This has been an enormously traumatic incident and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected, from those who have suffered bereavement, to those in the local community, who are deeply shocked,” he said. | Sussex police assistant chief constable Steve Barry said there were 11 people they were treating as “highly likely” to have died, but they could not yet formally identify any of the dead. Barry also warned that the death toll could rise further. “This has been an enormously traumatic incident and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected, from those who have suffered bereavement, to those in the local community, who are deeply shocked,” he said. |
| Investigators were keeping “an open mind” about who had been involved in the crash as they continued to receive calls from concerned friends and relatives. Barry said: “The scene itself is incredibly large. A lot of specially trained officers are sifting, as we speak, so we do need to keep an open mind, but from what we have seen at this stage, it is possible that we will find more fatalities.” | Investigators were keeping “an open mind” about who had been involved in the crash as they continued to receive calls from concerned friends and relatives. Barry said: “The scene itself is incredibly large. A lot of specially trained officers are sifting, as we speak, so we do need to keep an open mind, but from what we have seen at this stage, it is possible that we will find more fatalities.” |
| Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, 23, players at non-league Worthing United, were among those who died, with reports saying they were on their way to a match against Loxwood FC when they were caught up in the incident. | Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, 23, players at non-league Worthing United, were among those who died, with reports saying they were on their way to a match against Loxwood FC when they were caught up in the incident. |
| Grimstone’s family said he was “the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit”. His parents, Sue and Phil, and brothers, David and Paul, paid tribute, saying: “The family are in total shock at losing our dearest son Matthew so tragically at 23 years old. He was the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit. In his 23 years we can honestly say he never lost his temper.” | Grimstone’s family said he was “the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit”. His parents, Sue and Phil, and brothers, David and Paul, paid tribute, saying: “The family are in total shock at losing our dearest son Matthew so tragically at 23 years old. He was the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit. In his 23 years we can honestly say he never lost his temper.” |
| Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Littlehampton, was also on the A27 when the vintage aircraft plunged from the sky, with his sister confirming he too had been killed. | Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Littlehampton, was also on the A27 when the vintage aircraft plunged from the sky, with his sister confirming he too had been killed. |
| The driver of a vintage wedding limousine, the rider of a motorbike and two cyclists are also feared dead, but police have said that emergency services are finding it difficult to identify victims owing to the ferocity of the blast. | The driver of a vintage wedding limousine, the rider of a motorbike and two cyclists are also feared dead, but police have said that emergency services are finding it difficult to identify victims owing to the ferocity of the blast. |
| The pilot of the Hawker Hunter jet, who also flies for British Airways, remains in a critical condition after being pulled from the wreckage and airlifted to Royal Sussex hospital. Andy Hill, a 51-year-old former RAF instructor with more than 12,000 hours of flying experience, is a skilled aerobatic flyer and a regular at airshows, said fellow pilot, who flew earlier in the show. | The pilot of the Hawker Hunter jet, who also flies for British Airways, remains in a critical condition after being pulled from the wreckage and airlifted to Royal Sussex hospital. Andy Hill, a 51-year-old former RAF instructor with more than 12,000 hours of flying experience, is a skilled aerobatic flyer and a regular at airshows, said fellow pilot, who flew earlier in the show. |
| “Andy Hill was a British Airways captain and very well thought of,” David Wildridge told the Chichester Observer. “He is a highly experienced pilot, well-known and well-loved. He is highly professional and it is totally unusual for this to happen. He was a Harrier pilot in the air force. They are the top RAF pilots – the best of the best.” | “Andy Hill was a British Airways captain and very well thought of,” David Wildridge told the Chichester Observer. “He is a highly experienced pilot, well-known and well-loved. He is highly professional and it is totally unusual for this to happen. He was a Harrier pilot in the air force. They are the top RAF pilots – the best of the best.” |
| Police and rescue services have struggled to complete the clearance of the large crash site, which stretches for more than 360 metres, which was described as “hazardous” because of the amount of fuel still on the plane. | Police and rescue services have struggled to complete the clearance of the large crash site, which stretches for more than 360 metres, which was described as “hazardous” because of the amount of fuel still on the plane. |
| Both police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are continuing to investigate the crash andare urging anyone with photos or footage to get in contact. Aviation experts on Sunday said it was unlikely that the age of the jet, reportedly from the 1950s, was a factor in the crash. | Both police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are continuing to investigate the crash andare urging anyone with photos or footage to get in contact. Aviation experts on Sunday said it was unlikely that the age of the jet, reportedly from the 1950s, was a factor in the crash. |
| “The chance of the airplane coming down actually on a road is horrifically unlikely,” said David Learmount, a former RAF flying instructor and consulting editor of Flightglobal magazine. “We have actually got footage right down to the point of impact. A wing didn’t fall off. It’s a misjudgment.” | “The chance of the airplane coming down actually on a road is horrifically unlikely,” said David Learmount, a former RAF flying instructor and consulting editor of Flightglobal magazine. “We have actually got footage right down to the point of impact. A wing didn’t fall off. It’s a misjudgment.” |
| Aviation expert Julian Bray said the pilot may have made a misjudg ment. “The aircraft should have been 500ft above the ground and it certainly wasn’t,” he said. “The other possibility is the engine actually flamed out at one point and the pilot was trying to restart it while he was doing the loop.” | Aviation expert Julian Bray said the pilot may have made a misjudg ment. “The aircraft should have been 500ft above the ground and it certainly wasn’t,” he said. “The other possibility is the engine actually flamed out at one point and the pilot was trying to restart it while he was doing the loop.” |
| Shoreham residents gathered to mourn the victims of the crash on Sunday afternoon. Many of those at the memorial service at St Mary de Haura church had been personally touched by the disaster. The service took place amid a torrential downpour, but even when the sun came out on Sunday afternoon, Shoreham-by-sea remained eerily quiet on what is usually a festive weekend. | Shoreham residents gathered to mourn the victims of the crash on Sunday afternoon. Many of those at the memorial service at St Mary de Haura church had been personally touched by the disaster. The service took place amid a torrential downpour, but even when the sun came out on Sunday afternoon, Shoreham-by-sea remained eerily quiet on what is usually a festive weekend. |
| Related: Shoreham plane crash: police say more bodies may be found | Related: Shoreham plane crash: police say more bodies may be found |
| Mourners packed into the service, during which a minute’s silence was held and prayers said for the victims and their families. Father Paul Rupton said there was a tremendous sadness in the community. “You have to be honest with people and say, ‘I don’t know why these terrible things happen’,” he said. “Hopefully people will go away feeling that they have been supported by the church.” | Mourners packed into the service, during which a minute’s silence was held and prayers said for the victims and their families. Father Paul Rupton said there was a tremendous sadness in the community. “You have to be honest with people and say, ‘I don’t know why these terrible things happen’,” he said. “Hopefully people will go away feeling that they have been supported by the church.” |
| Claire Mulcare, 35, was at the memorial service with her three-year-old son. They had been at the airshow. “We saw the plane ascending, we turned our backs for a minute. We didn’t hear anything, just saw a huge amount of smoke and everything went quiet.” | Claire Mulcare, 35, was at the memorial service with her three-year-old son. They had been at the airshow. “We saw the plane ascending, we turned our backs for a minute. We didn’t hear anything, just saw a huge amount of smoke and everything went quiet.” |
| Tracy Stevens, 38, of Shoreham, was at the church service with her footballer son. She said her partner had had a lucky escape while driving on the A27. “My partner called to say he’d just gone past and it [the plane] had crashed behind him. He saw it in the mirror. He was very lucky.” | Tracy Stevens, 38, of Shoreham, was at the church service with her footballer son. She said her partner had had a lucky escape while driving on the A27. “My partner called to say he’d just gone past and it [the plane] had crashed behind him. He saw it in the mirror. He was very lucky.” |
| Local MP Tim Loughton said it was a “really tragic event” but cautioned against “knee-jerk” decisions about the show’s future amid concerns expressed in the aftermath of the crash about its location in the heart of a residential area. | Local MP Tim Loughton said it was a “really tragic event” but cautioned against “knee-jerk” decisions about the show’s future amid concerns expressed in the aftermath of the crash about its location in the heart of a residential area. |
| Related: Shoreham air show disaster – in pictures | Related: Shoreham air show disaster – in pictures |
| Worthing United said the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club were with those whose families and friends were killed or injured. | Worthing United said the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club were with those whose families and friends were killed or injured. |
| Update. pic.twitter.com/T8agevOfmK | Update. pic.twitter.com/T8agevOfmK |
| Team-mate Dean Gilmour paid tribute to Schilt and Grimstone on Twitter: | Team-mate Dean Gilmour paid tribute to Schilt and Grimstone on Twitter: |
| RIP Jacob Shilts & Matthew Grimstone-two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys | RIP Jacob Shilts & Matthew Grimstone-two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys |
| A fellow player, tweeting as markiovelli, added: | A fellow player, tweeting as markiovelli, added: |
| Devastated to have lost 2 team mates and wonderful Ppl it was a privilege to share a pitch with you. My Heart goes out to your families RIP | Devastated to have lost 2 team mates and wonderful Ppl it was a privilege to share a pitch with you. My Heart goes out to your families RIP |
| I have 4 medals I am most proud of, wouldn't have any of them without you. Numb. #rip Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt No words.... | I have 4 medals I am most proud of, wouldn't have any of them without you. Numb. #rip Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt No words.... |
| • This article was amended on 24 August 2015. An earlier version described the Shoreham crash as “the worst British airshow disaster in living memory”. That has been corrected to the worst for a generation. |