Seven people have been killed and a pilot has been left fighting for his life in hospital after a fighter jet taking part in an airshow crashed on to a busy A-road on Saturday afternoon.
Sussex police said the Hawker Hunter hit four cars on the A27 road, just north of Shoreham airport, where the Royal Air Forces Association airshow was being held.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said seven people were declared dead at the scene, while the critically injured pilot was taken to the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton.
A further 14 people were treated for minor injuries. Unconfirmed reports said that two cyclists were killed in the crash. One of the vehicles hit was a Daimler regularly used for weddings.
The vintage Hawker Hunter single-seat fighter jet was attempting a loop manoeuvre, but the plane reportedly failed to pull out. Pilot named as Andy Hill, a former RAF Harrier jump-jet pilot. One eyewitness said that the pilot did not eject before the plane hit the ground. The wrecked plane came to rest in a bush.
The Hawker Hunter was listed in the airshow 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 airshow display work, is described by those in the industry as “a very experienced formation instructor and display pilot”.
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