Monday 24 August 2015

Shoreham Airshow crash death toll 'could reach 20'

The death toll of the Shoreham air crash could rise to 20, police have warned.
A Hawker Hunter jet crashed on to the A27 during an aerial display at the Shoreham Airshow on Saturday.
At least 11 people are thought to have died but more bodies are expected to be recovered after the removal of the jet.
Meanwhile, aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority, said it was considering whether air show safety requirements should change.

Assistant Chief Constable of Sussex Police Steve Barry said: "The number of highly likely dead remains at 11, but may rise.
"However, we do not expect that figure to be greater than 20, probably fewer."
He said there were cyclists and onlookers in the area at the time of the crash.
"It makes it very complicated to establish who was where and who we can actually confirm has been a victim of this crash," he said.
A crane is due to be brought to the scene on the A27 in West Sussex to remove the plane's wreckage.

The victims
Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer, was named by his sister Becky Jones on Facebook as one of the dead
Jacob Schilt, 23, was part of Worthing United's Sussex County League Division Two championship-winning side last season
Matthew Grimstone, 23, played for Worthing United and was thought to have been travelling with Mr Schilt
Shoreham air crash: The victims
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The pilot Andy Hill, 51, from Sandon, near Buntingford in Hertfordshire, remains in a critical condition in hospital, having been pulled from the burning wreckage.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it was "committed to holding a review" into current safety guidelines surrounding air shows.
In a statement, the CAA said: "The safety standards that must be met by all major civil air displays in the UK are among the very highest in the world.
"All air display arrangements, including the pilots and aircraft, must meet rigorous safety requirements. Individual display pilots are only granted approval following a thorough test of their abilities.
"Events of this nature are very rare, but we will now thoroughly examine the circumstances to establish if further improvements can be made."

At the scene: Frankie McCamley, BBC News
The recovery operation is continuing. Later they'll be taking a crane on to the crash site to lift the wreckage of that plane and when they do that there are fears more bodies will be found.
Behind me is the road, the A27, which remains closed as emergency services are still on the scene - still there trying to work out exactly what happened and trying to work their way through the wreckage, not just of the planes, but of the cars as well.
The community here is still coming to terms with this terrible loss following the plane crash on Saturday. A lot of people, despite this awful weather, have been coming down and leaving flowers, leaving scarves and leaving candles.
One message reads: "To all those who lost their lives - rest in peace."
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Sussex Police said the crash site is spread over about 400 yards of the A27 and extends to the adjoining airfield. All of those who died are thought to have been on the road.


Steve Andrews, clinical operations manager at the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) described a scene of "utter devastation".
He said: "Initially, when you see the scene, it is quite... It takes you aback. It was a large scene of devastation.
"Unfortunately there was not a lot we could do for the casualties in the cars."
Ambulance crews treated 14 casualties, including the pilot.


Source: bbc

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