Hawker Hunter crashed at Shoreham

[gibson617]

Have just got home from Shoreham and feeling totally shell shocked . The crash literally happened right in front of me and my partner and words cannot express how we feel . We cannot get those terrible last moments from our minds and really don't know what to say except our thoughts are with all those who today lost loved ones on what should have been a fantastic day out in the sun . Also , I would like to praise all the emergency services , Police , Ambulance , Fire Brigade and Coast Guard for their excellent response to this disaster . A very , very sad day for the United Kingdom and the Aviation world and I wish we had not seen it happen !

A very sad Gibson 617

[Surrey Sam]

Have just got home from Shoreham and feeling totally shell shocked . The crash literally happened right in front of me and my partner and words cannot express how we feel .

x2

Hope you can get some sleep tonight, there were a number of shocked people around the vacinity of the crash scene. You're not alone.

[troutfisherman]

rip , such a sad year it has been for aviation

[martmpf]

BBC 1 Breakfast News reporter live from the accident site just stated the Hunter was an RAF aircraft and that the pilot was an Airbus pilot that also flew other RAF aircraft, implicating he was a current RAF pilot. You would have thought that after this time, they could get basic facts correct. It's frustrating that the public will believe these "facts".

A sad day for all of us.

Martin

[Thunder]

BBC 1 Breakfast News reporter live from the accident site just stated the Hunter was an RAF aircraft and that the pilot was an Airbus pilot that also flew other RAF aircraft, implicating he was a current RAF pilot. You would have thought that after this time, they could get basic facts correct. It's frustrating that the public will believe these "facts".

A sad day for all of us.

Martin

I didn't see the report myself but from what you've said above I don't see how the BBC are implying or have implied that the pilot is current RAF.

The Hunter was an RAF aircraft, not is an RAF a/c. The pilot may have very well flew other RAF a/c during his service, they aren't saying he flies other RAF a/c.

Reporters aren't military aviation enthusiausts so why do you expect them to get every detail on what happened correct. It's fustrating listening to so called enthusiausts getting angry over trival details that at the end of the day mean nothing. Several people lost their lives yesterday which will have devestating effects on families, friends, loved ones and those that witnessed events unfold and all some can do is slate the press.

[ChrisSk]

Looking at the photos and the amount of traffic and public nearby this could have been a lot worse. The 20+ people outside the hotel, the 10s of cars 100m back up the road. My thoughts go out to the families involved. A tragic day. The pilot had ample time to eject, he didn't. I personally think he did as much as he could to prevent injury to the public. Unfortuneately it was too late. I hope he and the other injured people recover.

Just to add. I find disturbing the amount of mobile phone videos on the web. Imagine if we all carried fire extinguishers in our cars and first aid boxes and took them to the scene instead and actually helped people instead of videoing them.

[TeeJay]

Sad news, thoughts go out to all involved

[lhrlima]

Looking at the photos and the amount of traffic and public nearby this could have been a lot worse. The 20+ people outside the hotel, the 10s of cars 100m back up the road. My thoughts go out to the families involved. A tragic day. The pilot had ample time to eject, he didn't. I personally think he did as much as he could to prevent injury to the public. Unfortuneately it was too late. I hope he and the other injured people recover.

Just to add. I find disturbing the amount of mobile phone videos on the web. Imagine if we all carried fire extinguishers in our cars and first aid boxes and took them to the scene instead and actually helped people instead of videoing them.

Two very good points raised there, I especially agree with the last one!!

I also would like to add my sincere condolences to all involved in yesterdays tragic events, along with my praise and admiration for all the Emergency Services who attended. I hope and pray that the Pilot recovers from his injuries

Looking at various 'news' reports since the event, I see the whole issue of 'Are Airshows safe' etc. has been raised. Whilst it is right and proper that this accident is fully investigated and any lessons learned to be implemented if required, I hope common sense prevails and the hobby we all enjoy doesn't become strangled by the all too common 'Health and Safety' movement.

Steve.

[POL]

I spent yesterday at an LAA flyin in Norfolk, with some very downhearted pilots who knew the Hunter pilot. I have nothing to add.

On the other hand, I am shocked to hear and read on Facebook and other places that people - including aviation enthusiasts - are suggesting that all airshows should have a two mile exclusion zone around display lines, so no-one can get close in case something like this happens again? Surely if that's what you want, just don't have airshows any more - it'd be like trying to watch RIAT from somewhere the other side of Marston Meysey, of course with not static aircraft on display! A very strange argument I feel.

[welshandy]

Interesting interview on BBC 5 Live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030gphs

[Blue Diamond]

Interesting interview on BBC 5 Live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030gphs

Please save us from these "experts."

[page_verify]

Such a terrible terrible accident shocking - its early days to speculate what may have caused it, but it does look possible that some kind of engine stall is possible from looking at the vids?

Can I suggest then Cornish-guy that you take some of your own medicine and not speculate? If you feel the need to know some of the possible causes, read the threads on PPrune where professional Hunter and military aircraft display pilots are clarifying less informed suggestions.
Either way, no one can tell what caused an aircraft to crash just by seeing it crash.

[page_verify]

I thought the last incident was the DH.110 crash at Farnborough in 1952.

The last spectator to be killed at a British air show was in 1952, and the outcome of that essentially wrote the rule book for how air shows still operate to this day.

The last time someone was killed who happened to be nearby but who may not even have known an air show was happening - never.

[Gary]

I will ask again that people don't speculate on what happened.

[Phoon]

Interesting interview on BBC 5 Live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030gphs

Please save us from these "experts."

I have just seen this. This guy is not an expert he either works or used to work for a railway company dispatching train at London Bridge, he is certainly not an aviation journalist. He is also a railway enthusiast who sprouts off here there and everywhere, upsetting professional people and is full of complete rubbish. Sad events such as this can do without idiots like this jumping on the bandwagon.

[Blue Diamond]

Interesting interview on BBC 5 Live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030gphs

Please save us from these "experts."

I have just seen this. This guy is not an expert he either works or used to work for a railway company dispatching train at London Bridge, he is certainly not an aviation journalist. He is also a railway enthusiast who sprouts off here there and everywhere, upsetting professional people and is full of complete rubbish. Sad events such as this can do without idiots like this jumping on the bandwagon.

You know him as well then. A mate of him describes him as "not nice."

[sgtangel]

Interesting interview on BBC 5 Live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030gphs

Please save us from these "experts."

I have just seen this. This guy is not an expert he either works or used to work for a railway company dispatching train at London Bridge, he is certainly not an aviation journalist. He is also a railway enthusiast who sprouts off here there and everywhere, upsetting professional people and is full of complete rubbish. Sad events such as this can do without idiots like this jumping on the bandwagon.

Thought he had dubious credentials when I heard him talk drivel right from the start

[POL]

I thought I'd ask him, he hasn't helped himself with his answer: https://twitter.com/chris_globe/status/ ... 7451630592

[Blue Diamond]

I thought I'd ask him, he hasn't helped himself with his answer: https://twitter.com/chris_globe/status/ ... 7451630592

Not really. Must like Class 37 diesels though going by his user name.

[Vulcanone]

Even after all the years I have done in the aviation publishing industry (and having met some) I still avoid them when this happens.

Heartfelt Sympathies and Condolences to the victims of yesterday

Tim S