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2015 Shoreham Airshow crash

Coordinates: 50°50′33″N 0°17′42″W / 50.84241°N 0.294862°W / 50.84241; -0.294862
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2015 Shoreham Airshow crash
The Hawker Hunter (G-BXFI) in 2013
Accident
Date22 August 2015 (2015-08-22)
SummaryUnder investigation
SiteA27 road near Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, United Kingdom
50°50′33″N 0°17′42″W / 50.84241°N 0.294862°W / 50.84241; -0.294862
TQ 201 061
Aircraft
Aircraft typeHawker Hunter T7
RegistrationG-BXFI
Crew1
Fatalities20 [unconfirmed] (all on ground)[1]
Injuries16 (3 serious, 1 critical)
Crash site in West Sussex
Crash site in West Sussex
Crash site
class=notpageimage|
Crash site shown within West Sussex, United Kingdom

On 22 August 2015, a Hawker Hunter T7 jet aircraft crashed into vehicles on a busy road during a display at the Shoreham Airshow in Shoreham-by-Sea, England, killing eleven people and injuring fourteen others. Four people were hospitalised, with one person, the pilot, in critical condition.[2][3][4][5][6] It is the deadliest air show accident in Great Britain since the 1952 Farnborough air show crash, which killed 31 people.[7]

Aircraft and crew

The aircraft performing at Shoreham in 2014

The aircraft was a two-seat Hawker Hunter T7, registration G-BXFI.[8] It was allowed to display its former military serial number WV372 as part of its colour scheme. Having first flown for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in July 1955, it was rebuilt following a fire, returning to service in 1959 after conversion to T7 specification.[9] It had been making civilian display flights as a warbird since 1998, under a variety of owners.[9] At the time of the incident, it was owned by Graham Peacock and based at North Weald Airfield, Essex.[10]

The sole crew member onboard the aircraft was a 51-year-old male pilot. He was described by colleagues as experienced with over 12,000 flight hours and worked as a captain at British Airways. He had flow Harrier Jump Jets and worked as an instructor for the RAF before joining the airline. Aside from the Hawker Hunter, he also flew RV8 and the Jet Provost at airshows.[11][12]

Crash

The aircraft hit the dual-carriageway road between the River Adur and the runway while flying approximately in the direction this image was taken.

The aircraft was taking part in the Shoreham Airshow, held in aid of the Royal Air Forces Association. To reduce the risk to the public, display aircraft usually fly parallel to spectators when performing a manoeuvre.[13] At about 13:20 BST (12:20 UTC),[11] the aircraft failed to complete a vertical loop aerobatic manoeuvre and crashed onto the A27 road just north of the airport, exploding upon impact and hitting multiple cars.[2] Footage taken of the crash showed a large fireball and plume of smoke immediately following the impact.[14]

The road was severely damaged by the crash, and will be repaired once emergency workers and investigators finish their work.[15]

Eleven people on the ground were killed,[16] and sixteen others were injured.[4] Those confirmed deceased included two players from Worthing United F.C., a Level 9 team in English football.[17]

The pilot of the Hunter was seriously injured.[16] He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in nearby Brighton for treatment. His condition was described as critical and it was said that he is "fighting for his life".[18]

Police said it was possible that more bodies would be recovered from the scene.[18]

Response

Following the crash, the A27 was closed in both directions, stranding those attending the airshow at the airport. People were initially only able to leave the site on foot as the main access from the car parks to the A27 was closed. The airport emergency vehicles attended the scene, resulting in all flying being cancelled due to the lack of fire cover at the airport.[11] It was announced the same day that the second day of the airshow on 23 August had been cancelled.[19] On 24 August, it was stated that the A27 was likely to remain closed until at least 26 August.[20]

Investigation

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is responsible for investigating civil aviation incidents in the United Kingdom. It sent a team to Shoreham to investigate the crash.[21] As a part of the investigation, the AAIB appealed for members of the public to contact them if they had photographs or video of the incident.[2]

References

  1. ^ http://news.sky.com/story/1540576/up-to-20-people-killed-in-air-crash-police
  2. ^ a b c "Shoreham plane crash: Seven dead after Hawker Hunter hits cars". BBC News. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Shoreham Air Show plane crash: major explosion after Hawker Hunter smashes into four cars – Live". The Daily Telegraph. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b Chris Johnston. "Seven people dead after plane crashes on to cars during Shoreham air show". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  5. ^ "U.K. airshow jet crashes onto highway and hits vehicles, several dead". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  6. ^ The Associated Press (22 August 2015). "Single-Seat Jet Crashes at UK Airshow,' Several Casualties'". The Associated Press via The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Shoreham Airshow crash: Pilot in critical condition". TV News Room. TV News Room. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  8. ^ "G-INFO Database". Civil Aviation Authority.
  9. ^ a b "Hawker Hunter – Survivor WV372 (G-BXFI)". Thunder & Lightnings. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  10. ^ "2015 Flying Display: Hawker Hunter T.Mk.7 WV372". Shoreham Airshow. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  11. ^ a b c "Airshow crash pilot a 'gifted' flyer". Bognor Regis Observer. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  12. ^ Rawlinson, Kevin. "Shoreham crash pilot is experienced aerobatic flyer". theguardian. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  13. ^ "RAF Red Arrows FAQs: How low do the aircraft fly?". www.raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Video: Moment of the plane crash at the Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex, England". Youtube. NewsOnline.
  15. ^ Boyle, Danny; Harley, Nicola (23 August 2015). "Shoreham Air Show plane crash: Eleven people now feared dead - live updates". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ a b "Shoreham air crash death toll 'rises to 11'". BBC News Online. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Two Footballers En Route To Away Game Named As Victims Of Shoreham Crash". RTLEC. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Shoreham air crash: Pilot 'fighting for life'". BBC News Online. Retrieved 22 August 2015. Cite error: The named reference "bbcnews2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ @shorehamairshow (22 August 2015). "Shoreham Airshow" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Shoreham air crash: More victims 'likely' when jet moved". BBC News Online. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  21. ^ "The AAIB has deployed a team to Shoreham". Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
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