Shoreham Airshow Crash

UPDATE-Monday 10.45am by editor

It is feared the death toll could rise to as many as 20, and the A27 will not reopen until Wednesday morning at the earliest say Sussex Police.

It is believed that there may be bodies trapped under the wreckage of the plane which is still to be lifted.

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By Andrew M. Collins

SHOREHAM AIRSHOW PLANE CRASHES ON A27

Hawker Hunter plane lost control doing loop manoeuvre

Four cars hit on the A27

Pilot may have escaped

Up to seven people feared killed

A Hawker Hunter plane crashed this afternoon at around 1.20pm whilst performing at the Shoreham airshow.

The fighter jet failed to complete a loop manoeuvre and tragically failed to pull up in time. Shocked witnesses watched in horror as a large fireball erupted when the plane crashed into traffic on the A27.

Up to six people are feared killed – four motorists and two cyclists – with a further two casualties reported by the Royal Sussex County Hospital, one listed as critical.

There are reports that the pilot managed to escape before the impact, but they have not yet been verified.

Sussex Police report that the remains of the plane ended up in a bush.

The AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) stated that a team would be looking into the accident to determine what happened.

It is the second such recent incident at the Shoreham Airshow after Brian Brown, a James Bond stuntman, failed to complete a barrel roll and crashed a WWII Hurricane in September 2007.

The A27 has been closed in both directions until further notice and Sussex Police are advising motorists avoid the area.

Our thoughts go out to the families involved in this tragedy.