Seven Fatally Injured When Plane Went Down On A Busy Highway

A Hawker Hunter military jet taking part in the Shoreham Air Show in Sussex, England has gone down on a busy highway resulting in the fatal injury of seven people. Several others on the ground were also injured by the accident.

The plane impacted several cars on highway A27. Witness Stephen Jones told the BBC that the pilot of the Hunter T Mark 7 had just begun his routine and had performed a loop from which he did not recover. The pilot "flew straight into the ground either on or very close to the A27, which runs past the airport," Jones said. 

In a notice posted on the Shoreham Airshow website, officials said that emergency services have declared a major incident and a number of helicopters have been deployed to the scene to evacuate casualties to hospital.

The A27 has been closed at Lancing and to the north of Hove and is expected to remain closed for some considerable time.

South East Coast Ambulance Service has confirmed that there have been seven fatalities declared at the scene, one patient with serious life-threatening injuries has been transported to Royal Sussex County Hospital and further 14 patients treated for minor injuries.

The casualties 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.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has sent ten appliances to the scene.

The Air Accident Investigation Bureau is attending the scene and have asked anyone who has video or photographs of the plane in the time leading up to and including the crash to hold on to them and await advice as to whether they may be wanted to assist with the investigation.

(Image from Shorham Airshow YouTube video)

FMI: www.shorehamairshow.co.uk/