Seven confirmed dead after Shoreham plane crash

An airshow ended in catastrophe on Saturday when a plane crashed into a major road in West Sussex.

The aircraft, believed to be a Hawker Hunter jet, plummeted to the ground when it failed to pull out of a loop manoeuvre, smashing into the A27 in a huge fireball. At least 10 ambulances were sent to the scene.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “SECAMB confirm 7 fatalities from the crash at the Shoreham air show today. Thoughts are with the families and loved ones.”

Photographs of the crash site taken by witnesses appeared to show the burning aircraft ploughing across the road just yards from cars and a group of people, its canopy open and wing ablaze, engulfing traffic lights and roadwork cones and signs in a huge ball of fire. Burning debris is also visible high in the air.

The Hawker Hunter has crashed at #Shoreham. This is a truly awful scene. pic.twitter.com/MZ1i55qLNA

— Nicholas Hair (@NDH37087) August 22, 2015

The crash was witnessed by thousands of people who were gathered to watch the air show. 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.”

“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.”