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_(12863569924).jpg) The Hawker Hunter (G-BXFI) seen in 2013 | |
| Date | 22 August 2015 (2015-08-22) |
|---|---|
| Summary | Under investigation |
| Site | A27 road near Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, United Kingdom TQ 201 061 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Hawker Hunter T7 |
| Registration | G-BXFI |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Injuries | 16 (1 critical) |
On 22 August, 2015, a Hawker Hunter T7 crashed into vehicles on the A27 road during a display at the Shoreham Airshow in Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom, killing seven people and injuring sixteen others, leaving the pilot in a critical condition.
Aircraft and crew
The accident aircraft was a two-seat Hawker Hunter T7 with the registration G-BXFI; 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 with tail number WV372 in 1959 after conversion to T7 specification. It had been making civilian display flights as a warbird since 1998, under a variety of owners. At the time of the incident, it was owned by Graham Peacock and based at North Weald Airfield, Essex.
The pilot was described by colleagues as experienced, and a captain with British Airways. He flew Hawker Siddeley Harriers for the RAF, before joining the airline.
Accident
The aircraft was taking part in the Shoreham Airshow, held in aid of the Royal Air Forces Association. At about 13:20 BST (12:20 UTC), 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 four cars. Seven people on the ground were killed and fifteen more were injured. Police said it was "possible" that more bodies would be recovered from the scene. Footage taken of the crash showed a large fireball and plume of smoke directly following impact.
Response
The pilot of the Hunter was seriously injured. He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, East Sussex for treatment. His condition was described as "critical" and that he is fighting for his life. Following the accident, 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 accident, and so all flying was cancelled due to the lack of fire cover at the airport. The second day of the airshow on 23 August was cancelled.
Investigation
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents in the United Kingdom. It sent a team to Shoreham to investigate the crash. The AAIB appealed for members of the public to submit photographs and video of the accident to it as part of the investigation.
See also
- 1952 Farnborough Airshow DH.110 crash, an airshow accident in the United Kingdom in which a display aircraft crashed into spectators resulting in multiple fatalities, and led to strict safety procedures.
References
- ^ "Shoreham plane crash: Seven dead after Hawker Hunter hits cars". BBC News. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "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.
- ^ Chris Johnston. "Seven people dead after plane crashes on to cars during Shoreham air show". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "U.K. airshow jet crashes onto highway and hits vehicles, several dead". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- 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.
- ^ "Hawker Hunter – Survivor WV372 (G-BXFI)". Thunder & Lightnings. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "2015 Flying Display: Hawker Hunter T.Mk.7 WV372". Shoreham Airshow. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ "Airshow crash pilot a 'gifted' flyer". Bognor Regis Observer. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "Shoreham air crash: Pilot 'fighting for life'". BBC Online. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "Video: Moment of the plane crash at the Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex, England". Youtube. NewsOnline.
- "Shoreham air crash: Pilot 'fighting for life'". BBC News Online. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- @Shoreham Airshow (22 August 2015). Airshow/status/635149825504362496 "Shoreham Airshow" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - "The AAIB has deployed a team to Shoreham". Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
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