Shoreham-by-Sea: Seven people were killed yesterday at an airshow on the English seaside when a military jet failed to pull up out of a loop and crashed into a busy road.
The historic Hawker Hunter aircraft, taking part in the Shoreham Air Show, hit several cars, creating a fireball and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Footage of the crash showed the jet carrying out a loop manoeuvre high in the air. The plane banked up steeply, turned over but did not complete the loop in time to avoid hitting the ground. The jet ploughed into bushes by the roadside. The pilot did not appear to deploy the ejector seat. West Sussex Police said one casualty was in hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, while a further 14 were being treated for minor injuries.
The crash happened at around 1:20pm. The plane hit the A27, a major road that runs along England’s southeast coast.
Eyewitness Chris Watkins said: “The Hunter came across the airfield, did a turn behind us and as it swooped down to do its run across the airfield it just ploughed straight in to the road and the trees.”
Gairo Gomez, who works nearby, said the whole building shook. “I saw the plane going down,” he added. “I heard a huge bang and the glass was shaking and the doors were banging, the whole building was shaking.”
The second day of the airshow on Sunday has been cancelled. Pictures from the scene showed police had cordoned off the four-lane dual carriageway road, with ambulances and fire crews and emergency service helicopters in attendance. Debris was visible across the road. Prime Minister David Cameron sent his condolences to the families of those who died.
AFP
