- On Saturday, a Hawker Hunter jet crashed into four cars on the A27 after it failed to pull out of a loop manoeuvre at the Shoreham airshow in West Sussex.
- Police said on Tuesday that the number of deaths was almost certainly 11, rather than 20 as previously feared.
- The new estimate of potential death toll came as calls grew for the rules governing airshows to be tightened. The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating.
- Police said efforts to sift though the wreckage would take “days rather than hours”, as anxious family members and friends continued to wait for confirmation on others who may have been killed.
- The pilot, Andy Hill, 51, remains in a critical condition in a medically induced coma after being pulled from the wreckage and airlifted to Royal Sussex hospital. Hill is an experienced and skilled aerobatic flyer who has spent more than 12,000 hours in the air. It has been confirmed that he switched with a colleague before the incident – but this is believed to be a pre-planned ordinary decision.
- The crash has prompted questions over whether the aerobatic display should have taken place next to a busy road. The mother of one of the Shoreham victims said on Sunday that displays should be held over the sea, and not in built-up areas. The British Air Display Association said authorities should make sure they understood why the incident occurred before changing regulations.
- The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into the crash. Aviation experts have claimed the investigation would conclude that the crash was not caused by the age of the plane, a Hawker Hunter jet reportedly from the 1950s.
- A crane is expected to lift the wreckage of the aircraft on Monday, when police fear more bodies may be discovered. The site of the crash stretches for more than 360 metres, and has been described as hazardous because of the amount of fuel still on the plane.
The confirmed victims
- Three victims of the crash have been identified by their friends and family, and the names of two other people missing since Saturday have emerged. As yet no victims have been formally named by police.
- Matthew Grimstone, 23, was among the first to be identified by friends and family as a victim of the crash. Grimstone, known as Grimbles to his friends, was killed with his team-mate Jacob Schilt while making his way to play for his club Worthing United against Loxwood. He was a member of the ground staff at Brighton and Hove Albion, which held a minute’s silence in his honour this weekend. His family said he was “the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit”. In a statement the family said:
Matt has been taken from us at just 23 and we still think he is going to walk through the front door any minute now. Our family wish deepest sympathy to the family of Jacob Schilt, who was travelling to Worthing with Matthew for Saturday’s game, also the families of the other victims.
Grimstone’s mother, Sue, has joined MPs in calling for a tightening of rules governing flying events to avoid a repeat of the tragedy.
- Jacob Schilt, 23, was a midfielder for Worthing United, and was also killed on his way to the match against Loxwood. Worthing United paid an emotional tribute to the two players, who they called essential members of the squad that last season had won the double. Jason was “small in stature and a tenacious midfielder, also very skilful, with an eye for goal”, said the club.
- Matt Jones, 24, from Littlehampton, was killed as he was making his way along the A27 to meet friends at the beach. He had recently returned from travelling to India and Australia and had just qualified as a personal trainer. In a message thanking those who sent messages of support, his sister called him the “best son, brother and uncle”. After a series of pleas asking friends if they knew of his whereabouts on Saturday, Becky Jones wrote:
Thank you to everyone who has messaged me. We are devastated to say Matt Jones was one of the fatalities.
His mother, Hazel Jones, 59, said: “Matt was my boy, a lovely boy. He was an absolute diamond.”
Missing since the crash
- Among those who have been missing since Saturday are motorcyclist Mark Trussler. His fiancee, Giovanna Chirico, a mother of four, posted on Facebook that her parter was missing. On Saturday she wrote: “Mark Trussler missing was riding an all black motorbike … if anyone has any details please contact Giovanna Chirico … he was at Shoreham airport today … hoping he just doesn’t have mobile signal, love u babe.” Her family have since appealed for people to stop contacting her on Facebook.
- Daniele Polito, of Worthing, was reportedly travelling home from work on Saturday with Matt Jones, reported Brighton paper the Argus. He has not been seen since. His sister Marina appealed for information about what had happened to the former Worthing College student, but told people not to jump to the conclusion that he had died before the facts could be established. His mother-in-law, Ruth Cox, said on Facebook: “Daniele Polito is still missing. He was with Matt Jones on their way back from work when the plane crashed, he is my grandson’s dad.”
- The driver of a vintage wedding limousine, the rider of a motorbike and two cyclists are also feared dead.
