Re: Jet crashes at UK airshow, hitting vehicles on highway
Two footballers and a gym instructor have been named as among seven victims of the Shoreham Airshow disaster as police warned that the death toll is expected to rise.
Goalkeeper Matt Grimstone and midfielder Jacob Schilt, 23, were on their way to play for non-league Worthing United against Loxwood when they were killed on the A27 in West Sussex yesterday.
The 'devastated' family of Matt Jones, 24, from Littlehampton revealed that he was on his way home from work when the Hunter Hawker fighter jet, piloted by Andy Hill, smashed into his BMW 3 Series Coupe in a ball of flames.
The driver of a vintage wedding limousine and two cyclists are also feared dead, but police have said that emergency services are finding it difficult to identify victims due to the ferocity of the blast.
Miraculously, the pilot, who flies for British Airways, was pulled from the flaming wreckage of his jet and flown by air ambulance to hospital. He is currently in a critical condition.
Tributes have been pouring in for the victims from friends, team mates, family and loved ones after the historic jet smashed into lines of waiting traffic after failing to pull up from a loop-the-loop stunt.
Worthing United FC Chairman Steve Taylor said the club is absolutely 'devastated' by the loss of two of their players.
He said: 'All we can say is we have two players unaccounted for following the air crash but as yet no families have been informed. We are devastated to be honest.'
A statement from the club said: 'The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Worthing United football club are with those whose families and friends were killed in the air crash yesterday.'
Team mate Dean Gilmour tweeted: 'RIP Jacob Shilt and Matthew Grimstone. Two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys.'
Tom Betts wrote: 'Such sad news about the two Worthing players who sadly passed away during the plane incident yesterday.
Thinking of families and team mates.
'Such a sad day for Sussex football too. Big minutes silence at all grounds this week I hope.'
The incident also caused the Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Blackburn Rovers at the nearby American Express Community Stadium to kick off late.
Gym instructor and two footballers are named as first victims of airshow jet crash...and police warn death toll of seven likely to rise
A fighter jet smashed into cars on busy road in front of thousands of horrified spectators at Shoreham Airshow
At least seven died and 14 were injured with the pilot, Andy Hill, left fighting for his life in a critical condition
One of the victims has been named as gym instructor Matt Jones, believed to be in his 20s, from Littlehampton
Worthing United FC goalkeeper Matt Grimstone and midfielder Jacob Schilt, 23, were also killed in crash on A27
By
Jenny Awford and
Lydia Willgress and
Darren Boyle and
Thomas Burrows for MailOnline
23 August 2015
Daily Mail
Two footballers and a gym instructor have been named as among seven victims of the Shoreham Airshow disaster as police warned that the death toll is expected to rise.
Goalkeeper Matt Grimstone and midfielder Jacob Schilt, 23, were on their way to play for non-league Worthing United against Loxwood when they were killed on the A27 in West Sussex yesterday.
The 'devastated' family of Matt Jones, 24, from Littlehampton revealed that he was on his way home from work when the Hunter Hawker fighter jet, piloted by Andy Hill, smashed into his BMW 3 Series Coupe in a ball of flames.
His sister, Becky, said: 'Thank you to everyone who messaged me. We are devastated to say Matt was one of the fatalities.'
The brother of AFC Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick paid tribute to the two young footballers along with Millwall Lionesses player Naomi Cole.
Gary Elphick, who is the manager of rival team Worthing FC, said: 'It's just devastating news.These were two great young lads who have been taken from us far too soon.'
This is the dramatic scene where a Hawker Hunter jet crashed into a wedding limo during an air show in Shoreham on Sea East Sussex
One of the victims has been named as gym instructor Matt Jones (both) who is believed to have died in his BMW 3 Series Coupe
Worthing United goalkeeper Matthew Grimstone (top) and midfielder Jacob Schilt (bottom), who lost their lives in the crash, have been described as 'absolute gents'
The pilot desperately tried to pitch his aircraft up in an effort to gain altitude as the jet was just a few feet above the main A27
The Hawker Hunter was completely destroyed with this section just behind the pilot engulfed in a fireball after it smashed into the ground
Watch videos of the crash:
The driver of a vintage wedding limousine and two cyclists are also feared dead, but police have said that emergency services are finding it difficult to identify victims due to the ferocity of the blast.
Miraculously, the pilot, who flies for British Airways, was pulled from the flaming wreckage of his jet and flown by air ambulance to hospital. He is currently in a critical condition.
Tributes have been pouring in for the victims from friends, team mates, family and loved ones after the historic jet smashed into lines of waiting traffic after failing to pull up from a loop-the-loop stunt.
Worthing United FC Chairman Steve Taylor said the club is absolutely 'devastated' by the loss of two of their players.
He said: 'All we can say is we have two players unaccounted for following the air crash but as yet no families have been informed. We are devastated to be honest.'
A statement from the club said: 'The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Worthing United football club are with those whose families and friends were killed in the air crash yesterday.'
Team mate Dean Gilmour tweeted: 'RIP Jacob Shilt and Matthew Grimstone. Two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys.'
Tom Betts wrote: 'Such sad news about the two Worthing players who sadly passed away during the plane incident yesterday.
Thinking of families and team mates.
'Such a sad day for Sussex football too. Big minutes silence at all grounds this week I hope.'
Jamie McKenzie, who plays for Worthing United FC reserve team, said both players will be remembered as 'really nice down to earth guys'.
He said: 'It's devastating. We're just showing our respect through the club, we had been training with them through the club and they're really nice guys.'
Naomi Cole, who plays for Millwall Lionesses, revealed that she grew up with Mr Schilt and said it has hit her 'pretty close to home'.
The Hawker Hunter crushed a Vauxhall Corsa, pictured, as it desperately tried to gain altitude during its aerobatic display yesterday
The rapidly disintegrating jet sprayed aviation fuel all over the carriageway engulfing a Daimler DS420 which was on its way to a wedding
Miraculously, the pilot Andy Hill (pictured), who flies for British Airways, was pulled from the flaming wreckage of his jet and flown by air ambulance to hospital
The jet left behind a trail of devastation last went on for several hundred yards after it crashed on the A27 on Saturday afternoon
Several people were standing across the road watching the air show from a road junction as the jet exploded into a huge fireball
Posting a statement on Twitter account, the England Under-23 star said: 'I am sending nothing but love and thoughts for the families and friends of Jacob and Matt who were two of the nicest most humble men you'd meet.'
The Football Association said they were 'saddened' to hear of the deaths and released a statement saying: 'Our thoughts are with their family, friends, team-mates and all others affected.'
Friends also paid tribute to Mr Jones on social media, with Holly Slade tweeting: 'Can't believe a family friend of ours died in the shoreham air crash yesterday, rest in peace matt jones.'
Chez Giovannini wrote: 'I am so, so sorry hun. I can't even try to imagine what you and your family are going through right now. I really did think he would of turned up larger than life with a flat battery.'
Mr Jones had recently returned from travelling where he visited India and Australia and had just celebrated passing his level three practical to be a personal trainer.
Dozens of residents filled a church in Shoreham where prayers were said for the air crash victims and their families.
The packed service at St Mary de Haura Church held a minute's silence to mark the tragedy.
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that seven people died in the crash, 14 were injured, with four of them taken to hospital.
Superintendent Jane Derrick said: 'Sadly, we believe that seven people lost their lives today when the jet crashed. As far as we are aware, all those people were on the road and not within the perimeter of the air show.
'We are continuing to search the area to ensure we have identified all the casualties. It's possible that tonight or tomorrow we are going to find more bodies at the scene.
'It's a busy dual carriageway and it was heavy with traffic at the time of the incident. There were several vehicles and a number of bikes.'
Footage has emerged showing the single-seater 1950s jet hurtling towards the ground before it exploded into a massive ball of flames and smoke.
Mr Hill, who is in his 50s, is a very experienced pilot with more than 12,000 hours in the cockpit. His wife is also understood to be a very experienced airline pilot.
The emergency services arrived at the scene only moments after the disaster and managed to pull the pilot from the flaming wreckage
Sussex Police said it might take several days to reopen the road because it suffered extensive damage in the crash
The casualties in this incident are all believed to have occurred on the road at this time and there are not thought to be any injuries to anyone actually on the airfield.
The Daimler DS420 State Landaulette Limo which was destroyed in the crash was a vintage car hired out for weddings.
According to the hire company's website, the car was available for hire in the Brighton area.
A spokesman for Chariots Chauffeurs, based in Lewes, East Sussex said: 'The car was on its way to collect a bride and groom and take them to their wedding. I have not heard from the driver and I am trying to get in contact with his wife.'
A fighter jet smashed into traffic on a busy road and burst into flames after failing to pull up from a loop-the-loop stunt during the airshow
The fighter jet was seen skimming the tops of trees on the side of the busy road before destroying a number of vehicles on the A27
The Hawker Hunter narrowly avoided a long line of traffic including a bus before it cashed onto the A27 during an attempted loop
Emergency services raced to the scene of the crash and police were seen covering a Daimler limousine which had its roof sliced off
As the aircraft came to the bottom of its loop, Mr Hill pitched the nose of the aircraft up in a desperate attempt to gain altitude, but the jet continued downwards.
The aircraft, which first entered service with the RAF in 1955, crushed a Vauxhall Corsa which was heading along the A27 past the airport. The jet lost control after striking the car and soon broke up, engulfing a vintage Daimler DS420 in a fireball as the disintegrating jet sprayed burning aviation fuel over the carriageway. The Daimler was on the opposite side of the road, heading from Brighton towards Worthing when it was destroyed.
The first fire crews were on the scene within seconds of the aircraft coming to a rest and the pilot was pulled from the cockpit, which had broken away from the rest of the air frame.
Superintendent Jane Derrick, from Sussex Police, said that at least seven people died at the scene. All of those who died are believed to have died on the A27 between Worthing and Brighton.
A specialist team of officers are continuing to search the scene of the accident to ensure that they have identified all of the victims.
She said she feared that it is possible that they have not yet recovered all of the bodies and the death toll could possibly increase as they continue to search the area.
Witnesses said the A27 was very busy at the time and there were people standing on a green area near the crash site.
It is the second fatal incident at the Shoreham Airshow in recent years.
In September 2007 James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a Second World War Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain.
The Royal Sussex County hospital was put on alert for a major incident and a number of helicopters have been deployed to the scene to evacuate casualties to hospital.
Thousands watched in horror as the 1950s single-seat jet plummeted towards the lines of waiting cars and crashed belly-down
Horrifying footage shows the moment the Hawker Hunter smashed into the A27 at Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex today
Photographers have captured the moment the Hawker Hunter exploded in a ball of flames in the seaside town in West Sussex
Witnesses have described seeing the jet stall during a loop-the-loop stunt and fail to complete the manoeuvre before smashing into waiting traffic belly down in a 'massive ball of flames'.
Tony Wallace, 48 from Shoreham, watched the crash from nearby Mill Hill with his friends and two children.
He said: 'The Hunter came from the airport and flew over us and did and loop the loop to go back around to the airport, but at the bottom of the loop it just seemed to lose power and went into the ground belly down in a massive ball of flames.'
'We could see it all; it went down on the A27 by the lights near the airport. That road has been chockablock all day and we can see stationary cars there now. There's still plume of smoke, fire engines and a car covered in foam. It looks like a warzone.
'There are around 200 people watching it here and there was a gasp of horror. If the pilot ejected, we didn't see it.'
Chris from Worthing said: 'It was doing a big loop the loop and I thought, 'That's coming in low' and then there was a massive fireball.
'It looked like it landed on oncoming traffic on the A27. There were many burnt out cars and motorbikes laying on their side. It was absolute carnage.'
Stephen Jones said: 'The aeroplane involved is a Hawker Hunter T mark 7. And he'd just begun his flying display.
'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.'
Jason Gunn, 53, said: 'I was watching the display standing on top of my car. As it came down, it seemed like it didn't have enough power to lift it up.
I saw it just going below the tree and I expected it to come up. But it didn't and suddenly - boom boom. It looked as if it split in half.'
The Hawker Hunter crashed on the main A27 just north of Brighton City Airport killing seven people on the ground according to police
Hundreds of spectators looked on in horror after the Hawker Hunter crashed into the ground and instantly burst into a fireball
Witnesses have described seeing the jet stall during a loop-the-loop stunt at the airshow and fail to complete the manoeuvre
The 1950s plane was taking part in a display when it encountered a problem and crashed into the ground in a fireball
The vintage aircraft continued to lose altitude but the pilot seemed to get the jet's nose pointing up in a desperate attempt to gain height
The jet disappeared behind the tree line as it was just a few feet above the A27 road which was packed with cars at the time
The 1950s jet erupted into a fireball as it disintegrated after it slammed into several cars along the A27 just outside the aerodrome
Several people in cars travelling along the A27 were killed instantly in the fireball as well as two cyclists who were also on the road
The Air Accident Investigation Branch has asked anyone with footage of the incident to store it in case they require it later
The crash at Shoreham was witnessed by thousands of people who had flocked to the first day of the air show, as well as horrified onlookers nearby.
Shoreham resident Dave Penwarden, 51, said he saw the plane explode in a 'massive fireball'.
'The plane was coming out of a loop-the-loop, it was fairly low,' he said.
'It just didn't seem to have enough speed to come out of the loop, instead of powering out it dropped too fast and hit the ground.
'There was a massive fireball and an awful lot of smoke. Afterwards there was a stunned silence.
'Everyone just went quiet, it's remarkable really. There was no more flying stunts and it's all just been quiet.
'People are waiting for when they can leave, if you drove then you can't leave and it's going to be hours.'
Another witness David Hough, 76, said he saw the aircraft flying low to the ground.
'Suddenly there was a big flash and flames and lots of smoke. Everyone was very quiet and subdued afterwards.
'A lot of people now can't go home, if you came by car you're stuck.'
The accident happened only a few yards from the front gate of the independent boarding school Lancing College. The college Tweeted following the disaster: 'Our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the plane crash at the Shoreham Airshow this afternoon.'
Police and emergency services kept stunned onlookers at the airfield while they provided assistance to survivors of the disaster
The plane (circled) was seen skimming the trees along the side of the dual carriageway before crashing into several cars
Sussex Police warned local residents that the A27 may remain closed for a number of days while the damage is repaired
Witnesses said the Hawker Hunter jet plane was performing a loop but did not complete the manoeuvre and crashed
The plane crashed in a fiery explosion on the nearby A27 and fourteen people were treated for minor injuries at the scene
The Hawker Hunter plane (pictured) failed to pull out of an aerobatic loop and smashed into the A27 which will remain closed for today
Witnesses have described seeing smoke billowing into the sky just moments after the accident as the plane took part in a display
Witnesses said they saw the jet loosing power during a loop-the-loop and smashing into waiting traffic belly down
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent ten appliances to the scene and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau attended the crash.
Friends and fellow pilots have taken to social media to send their best wishes to Mr Hill's family.
One user, known as @PlaneOldBen, wrote: 'I really hope Andy Hill is ok, the RV8TORS were flying at Blackpool Airshow a couple of weeks back whilst I was flying.'
Another, named just as Gareth, wrote: 'Hawker hunter crashed at Shoreham, no ejection by the looks of things. Andy Hill the pilot, I hope some how he got out.'
And Paul Rogers, from West Sussex, added: 'RAFA #Shoreham airshow: the Hawker Hunter has crashed on or near the A27. Terrible news. Our thoughts go out to Andy Hill's (pilot) family.'
Pilot David Wildridge, who had flown with the Tiger Nine display earlier today said: '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.
'It is difficult to make any comment on the crash which would be meaningful until the investigation is complete. His wife was also a British Airways captain and our thoughts are with the family. It was just very sad when it happened.'
Moments after the crash, stunned survivors surveyed the scene of the carnage as a pall of smoke hung low over the sky
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that seven people died and 14 were injured including the pilot who was airlifted to hospital
BBC South East reporter Chrissie Reidy tweeted that the plane hit two cars on the A27 north of Shoreham airport
Sussex Police said they feared that more bodies may be found as the emergency services continue their search of the crash area
The Hawker Hunter, serial number WV372 was built for the Royal Air Force in the 1950s but was now being flown by civilians
RECENT UK AIRSHOW DISASTERS
August 2015 - Pilot Kevin Whyman, 35, was killed when his aircraft plummeted from the sky during an aerial display at the CarFest event in Oulton Park, Cheshire. Mr Whyman, an RAF-trained fast jet pilot, started flying the Folland Gnat in 2005 and was one of the founder members of the Gnat Display Team in 2007.
April 2015 - Champion aerobatic pilot David Jenkins was killed while showcasing his skills in an Edge 360 plane during a media event to launch the Old Buckenham Airshow in Norfolk
July 2012 - Gulf War veteran Trevor Roche, 52, was killed in front of a crowd of 600 spectators when he lost control of a De Havilland DH53 Humming Bird which crashed in gusty winds at Old Warden Aerodrome, near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.
November 2011 - Highly-experienced Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham, 35, was fatally injured when he was ejected from the cockpit of a Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. A coroner ruled that the safety pin on the ejector seat had been 'entirely useless'.
August 2011 - Red Arrows Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, was piloting a Hawk T1 when it came down into a field after he pulled six times the force of gravity at an air show near Bournemouth Airport, killing him instantly.
September 2007 - James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a Second World War Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain at Shoreham Air Show, West Sussex.
Eyewitness Alexander Metselaar, 50, who was just 40 yards away, said: 'As the aircraft came down I realised the pilot wasn't going to be able to pull up in time.
'It struck car after car, with each vehicle bursting into flames.
'For a second or two there was a stunned silence at the airshow, then children who witnessed the crash started screaming their heads off.'
Ailish Southall was driving along the A27 with her two children when the plane came down just 45 feet from her car. She said: 'We were waiting for the aircraft to go back up and it didn't - it seemed to kind of split in two. There were huge amounts of fire and we ran from the car to avoid the debris.'
Conservative MP Tim Loughton said the accident was 'tragic' and said everybody's 'thoughts and prayers must be with the families and casualties'.
Airshow officials confirmed there had been 'a major incident outside the airfield boundary', tweeting that emergency services are responding.
Police have advised motorists to avoid the A27 in the Shoreham area for rest of today as both carriageways were closed between the A293 turn off for Shoreham Harbour and the A2025. The closures are likely to remain in place for the rest of the day.
A spokesman for Sussex 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 A27 has been closed in both directions and drivers are asked to avoid the area until further notice.'
The Hawker Hunter is a British jet plane known for its manoeuvrability and speed.
The jet, serial number WV372, was built for the Royal Air Force at a factory in Kingston-upon-Thames in the 1950s.
The aircraft - one of more than 1,900 to be built - made its first flight on July 17, 1955. It was later sent to West Germany, only returning to the UK to be maintained.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch has asked anyone who has video footage or still images of the tragedy to keep them in case they are needed.
Prime Minister David Cameron sent his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of those who died in the crash.
A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister sends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who were so tragically killed after a jet crashed into several vehicles in West Sussex.
'The Prime Minister's thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims.'
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton said: 'This has been a really tragic event and there will be many personal tragedies as the details unfold.
'Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives and we just hope that there will not be any more bodies found as the police do their grisly duties going through the remains.'
Superintendent Jane Derrick, pictured, said the emergency services were still searching the scene for any additional bodies
Air Crash Investigators will try and determine why the aircraft failed to pull out of its roll in time and crashed into several cars
When the aircraft started to disintegrate, the its aviation fuel was sprayed around the carriageway creating an inferno
Seven people on the ground died after the plane was destroyed, however the pilot Andy Hill was pulled from the flaming wreckage