Seven dead after Hawker Hunter hits cars

Caged · 22 Aug 2015 at 19:35

Dis86 said:
Stairs are an essential part of every day life though. Performing stunts over urban areas ain't!

I see where you're coming from, but everything is about acceptable risk. If we stopped doing things that weren't essential then things would be very boring.

These shows are already planned so that the stunts occur away from built up areas, unfortunately planes travel quite fast so if things go wrong they can drift outside of those areas quite quickly.

squerble · 22 Aug 2015 at 19:44

The heat blur on that pic just before it hits the ground suggest the engine was turning to at least some degree, plus the elevators look like he's pulled all the way back.

so sad. The images are breathtaking (in the negative sense).

SS-89 · 22 Aug 2015 at 19:58

The aftermath video...jesus. It's pretty clear that most of the cars hit would have been instantaneous death (the vauxhall corsa especially) or at least I hope so...tragic

Blackjack Davy · 22 Aug 2015 at 19:59

V F said:
I assumed these air shows were very strict with safety? Or does anything go nowadays?

You have to wonder. Its the second fatal aircrash at the same airshow the last was in 2007 and I heard that one go down, hurricane bomber. I didn't witness this one but got caught up in the traffic afterwards and the police and sirens have been going off all afternoon/evening all over sussex it sounds like.

Can't believe its happened again. Whats that, the second fatal crash in an airshow in the UK this year?

Charlie Bravo · 22 Aug 2015 at 20:51

peige said:
Shocking lack of information at the actual airshow, they just weren't announcing a thing apart from stay where you are. No cars can leave from the main car park right now.

Couldn't agree more. We stayed put for several hours only to find the overflow car park, where we were, had no issues at all.

Anyway, it was a horrific thing to witness and I see the show for tomorrow has now been cancelled.

Rroff · 22 Aug 2015 at 20:52

SS-89 said:
The aftermath video...jesus. It's pretty clear that most of the cars hit would have been instantaneous death (the vauxhall corsa especially) or at least I hope so...tragic

Yeah looks like most would have been instantaneous and probably didn't even see it coming.

firstborn · 22 Aug 2015 at 20:56

Charlie Bravo said:
Couldn't agree more. We stayed put for several hours only to find the overflow car park, where we were, had no issues at all.

Anyway, it was a horrific thing to witness and I see the show for tomorrow has now been cancelled.

I'd raise a formal complaint. Must've been terrible to be kept waiting whilst all they were doing was dealing with a tragic and major incident involving loss of life.

antijoke · 22 Aug 2015 at 20:58

It's so sad to see the people walking around in the aftermath video I saw, you can't help but wonder about the people who were in those cars....are they out safe and sound or are they still in there.

scorza · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:06

anticonscience said:
It's so sad to see the people walking around in the aftermath video I saw, you can't help but wonder about the people who were in those cars....are they out safe and sound or are they still in there.

Well seven people have died so far so I guess most of the fatalities were in cars

Perhaps a mod could change the title of this thread as the situation is a bit more serious that the mere loss of a vintage aircraft

mushtafa · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:06

I personally think it was caused by mechanical failure. We'll soon find out. I don't understand how the pilot managed to survive?

Rroff · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:08

mushtafa said:
I personally think it was caused by mechanical failure. We'll soon find out. I don't understand how the pilot managed to survive?

Has it been confirmed he survived?

From what I heard the front part broke off as the tail half made contact first and was thrown forward of the main fire, etc.

scorza · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:09

Rroff said:
Has it been confirmed he survived?

From what I heard the front part broke off as the tail half made contact first and was thrown forward of the main fire, etc.

Just come through on BBC breaking news; he's in a critical condition.

traveyb · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:14

Wow that was a surprise.

koolpc · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:15

scorza said:
Just come through on BBC breaking news; he's in a critical condition.

Waw!!! Hope he survives. Surely it was a mechanical problem as any pilot worth his salt would have ditched the plane away from a main road etc.

Jono8 · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:16

How on earth is he still alive?

MOOGLEYS · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:23

mushtafa said:
I personally think it was caused by mechanical failure. We'll soon find out. I don't understand how the pilot managed to survive?

Looks like he misjudged the height needed for the loop to me. Will be surprised if it was a mechanical failure as I would have expected him to eject, It looks like he expected to complete the loop ?

Will be interesting to find out.

V F · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:25

Jono8 said:
How on earth is he still alive?

Charlie Bravo · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:33

firstborn said:
I'd raise a formal complaint. Must've been terrible to be kept waiting whilst all they were doing was dealing with a tragic and major incident involving loss of life.

I don't believe the commentary team were positioned on the A27.
Next silly comment? :rolleyes:

mushtafa · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:37

I'm surprised he didn't eject, but surely his job was to do whatever he could to minimise risk/injuries/death. I expect he wrestled with the controls for as long as possible.

Harlequin · 22 Aug 2015 at 21:38

got home about an hour ago - if theres another photo , I was 2 cars in front of that red bus.