Two days after a Hawker Hunter jet crashed on to the A27 in West Sussex, Civil Aviation Authority announces emergency measures
4.08pm BST
Books of Condolence have been opened at municipal buildings across West Sussex for the community to share messages of support and sympathy for those affected by the air crash.
The flag is flying at half-mast at County Hall in Chichester, while books of condolence have been opened at the following venues:
4.02pm BST
West Sussex coroner Penny Schofield has warned that work to identify victims of the Shoreham air crash would be a “slow and painstaking operation”.
Schofield said it may take “several weeks” before all investigations are completed.
Specialist recovery teams are still at the scene searching for the remains of those who died but it is a very slow and painstaking process.
We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding over the next few days as the recovery teams carry out their work.
3.20pm BST
The ex-girlfriend of a young father who is believed to have been among the victims of the Shoreham airshow disaster has said she is staying strong for the couple’s son.
It is understood that Daniele Polito, 23, was travelling in Matt Jones’ BMW when the Hawker Hunter jet crashed into the A27, reports local newspaper the Worthing Herald.
3.11pm BST
Aviation regulator the CAA has announced that flying displays over land by vintage jet aircraft will be significantly restricted until former notice, and that no further flights are to be made by Hawker Hunter aircraft for a temporary period of time. In a statement, the CAA said:
The thoughts of everyone at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) remain with all of those affected by the tragic accident at the Shoreham Air Show on Saturday 22 August.
Following the accident we immediately began an urgent review and have, today, announced a series of immediate restrictions and changes to UK civil air displays.
3.04pm BST
Chris Heames, the pilot originally listed in the airshow’s programme before being replaced last month by Andy Hill, has said he was alerted to the crash by worried friends while holidaying with his family in Cambodia. Heames told the Daily Mirror he is now praying that his “best pal” recovers from his injuries.
I was originally pencilled in to the fly the jet at Shoreham. But after organising it I booked a three-week holiday to Cambodia, so Andy did the show. Both of us are equally qualified and experienced to fly the aircraft and each do half of the displays each year.
[My friends] saw it on the news and knew it was the plane I usually fly. They thought it was me. I watched the footage, of course I have, but I’m not going to speculate on what might have gone wrong. The Air Accident Investigation Branch are looking into it and will publish a report in due course. It would be entirely wrong to speculate.
That shows how well respected he is. Only the best pilots were trusted to fly the Harriers.
He is a great friend and an exceptional pilot. I haven’t spoken to his wife, I’m leaving her to be with Andy.
2.56pm BST
A private ambulance leaves the crash site.
A private ambulance escorted by several police motorbikes leaves the #Shoreham air crash scene pic.twitter.com/DavYqDUxQH
2.53pm BST
The driver of a classic Daimler wedding car, who was on his way to pick up a bride for her wedding service, is believed to be among those killed in the crash. The company, Chariots Chauffeurs, believe the male driver, who has not been named, died in the tragedy. Jay Sherwin, the company’s owner, said:
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of our driver who was caught up in the tragic air crash on Saturday afternoon in Shoreham, West Sussex. We ask the media to respect the privacy of his family.
2.03pm BST
John Turner, chairman of the British Air Display Association, says the UK has not seen an accident like Saturday’s crash at Shoreham in almost 63 years, as the rules governing air displays are robust.
1.51pm BST
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has appealed for images or videos of the Shoreham crash.
If you have photos or video of the Shoreham airshow accident, please contact the AAIB using our enquiries@aaib.gov.uk email address
1.43pm BST
1.28pm BST
Members of Brighton and Hove Albion football club have left tributes to their colleague Matt Grimstone who died in the crash.
As well as working for Brighton’s ground staff, Grimstone supported the club.
Brighton & Hove Albion ground staff pay tribute to colleague Matt Brimstone killed in Shoreham airshow crash. pic.twitter.com/NYPKQldEt3
1.10pm BST
1.03pm BST
It has emerged that pilot Andy Hill was due to fly the doomed Hawker Hunter jet at the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary show in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, next month.
A spokeswoman for the Imperial War Museum (IWM) said the event - which is close to the M11 - would still take place on September 19 and 20 but it would be “revised” following the tragedy. She declined to comment on whether the revised airshow would include a ban on pilots performing certain stunts after the jet crashed when it failed to pull out of a loop-the-loop.
12.52pm BST
Acrobatic air displays should not be banned in the wake of the Shoreham plane crash because UK aviation is the safest in the world, Dr Stephen Wright, an aviation lecturer at the University of Leeds, has said. As a series of airshows around the country confirm they are going ahead with their events as planned over the next few weeks, Wright told the Press Association:
Leave these decisions to our regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). They are the body that works on our behalf. Their job is to manage the risk.
They are incredibly safety-conscious. The CAA is one of the reasons why the UK aviation community is, I believe, the safest in the world.
This was a terrible accident but what we haven’t had is the aircraft itself going into the crowd. The people that organise it ensure the people watching are as safe as can be.
I come from that part of the world and most of the area isn’t residential, it’s agricultural. The plane hasn’t come down in a built-up area.
12.44pm BST
Sussex police say up to 20 people may have died in the crash. A crane started to lift debris from the crash site at midday. It is feared the clearance will reveal more bodies.
12.39pm BST
Pilot Andy Hill was “unbelievably experienced” and his preparation for air displays was “second to none”, George Bacon, of the British Air Display Association, told BBC Breakfast. Bacon said he worked with Hill at an event earlier this month and he was “very thorough” in the way he prepared for flights.
He was an unbelievably experienced chap. Very, very thorough and professional in the way he prepares for his displays. All pilots are required to undertake training and mentoring before they undertake display flying. The preparation this particular pilot undertook was second to none. I was involved in another event with him just a week ago and he always would call in, as many of them do, to debrief their last display to try and work out whether there was any better way of doing it.
12.36pm BST
The former school of two of the victims of the crash, Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, has released a comment about their deaths.
It is with great sadness that we remember former students Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt who died tragically at the weekend in the Shoreham airshow crash. They left Varndean school in 2008 and are fondly remembered by staff as considerate and kind young men. Jacob’s father, Bob Schilt, was a teacher at the school from 1989-2009 and is remembered affectionately by staff who knew him. Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the two young men at this very sad time.
12.25pm BST
A number of papers are reporting comments from an unknown source suggesting that the Red Arrows had repeatedly refused to take part in the Shoreham airshow because it would be too dangerous. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment, but the Guardian understands that this is because the Red Arrows consist of nine aircraft and would require far more space than the Hunter that was displaying on Saturday.
12.14pm BST
Guardian reporter Haroon Siddique is at the scene of the disaster, where people are continuing to lay flowers in tribute to the victims.
Tributes left to victims of Shoreham airshow crash pic.twitter.com/Wxv1yhkDZc
A child's tribute to victims of Shoreham airshow crash pic.twitter.com/Gmbsvb7xOF
12.09pm BST
Police are advising commuters to stay away from the Shoreham area.
If you're traveling this morning please remember to stay clear of the #Shoreham area if at all possible, it may be congested. Thank you
12.02pm BST
People have been laying flowers and tributes to the victims of the Shoreham airshow crash close to where the Hawker Hunter plane came down.
As police said the death toll from Saturday’s tragedy might rise to 20, local people left messages for the dead and their friends and family on a footbridge that has become a makeshift shrine.
12.01pm BST
Louise Goldsmith, the leader of West Sussex county council, has said that flags will be flying at half mast today.
Flags are flying at half mast today at WSCC in respect of those who tragically lost their lives at Shoreham on Saturday.
11.59am BST
A Facebook group set up to raise money for family and friends of the victims has more than 1,000 members.
11.47am BST
We have a map of the crash site, where a crane is currently attempting to lift the wreckage of the aircraft.
11.46am BST
Among those still missing since the disaster is Mark Trussler, who was riding his motorbike on the A27 at the time. His fiancee, Giovanna Chirico, says she has not heard from him since and friends claim his motorbike was found at the scene.
She shared a picture of Mark on Facebook and said: “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.”
11.46am BST
Pictures and videos from the scene are coming in on Twitter. Recovery of the plane is expected to be completed by today and its sections then sent to Farnborough in Hampshire to be examined by AAIB investigators.
The crane to lift the plane wreckage in #Shoreham has been deployed @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/33Bejy3Z53
Crane on site to lift jet at #ShorehamAirCrash #shoreham #Sussex pic.twitter.com/kp2fuG7EhS
NEWS: Crane has arrived on scene to move the wreckage of the #Shoreham airshow crash pic.twitter.com/mOsTwTg5hx
Flowers on footbridge near crash site #Shoreham pic.twitter.com/GcKrMljNcY
11.36am BST
Members of Worthing United, where two of the victims of the Shoreham air disaster were players, have described hearing about the crash in a video.
11.34am BST
Sussex police have issued a statement on behalf of the family of pilot Andy Hill. They said Hill is in a medically induced coma and that they are “devastated and deeply saddened for the loss of life”.
[The family] send their prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected at this difficult time.
Andrew Hill remains in critical condition. He has multiple injuries and is in a medically induced coma.
11.27am BST
The fate of a group of bystanders caught on camera at the scene of the crash is unknown.
A friend was really close. Has lots of pictures. So very sad #Shoreham pic.twitter.com/QvLhynWNyv
11.26am BST
The deputy chairman of the British Air Display authority said the loop-the-loop was one of the simplest manoeuvres that could be performed. Major George Bacon said:
A loop is the simplest manoeuvre, pretty much. A lot of aircraft are designed to do it, and something like a Hawker Hunter, very, very comfortably indeed.
The air force flew them for years. They looped dozens of them in formation, were loved by the pilots who flew them and were one of Britain’s great export aircraft as well.
I think all those families [at Shoreham] would want us to really seriously look at [the regulations] and they deserve an answer and a response.
Clearly the inquest will no doubt, as it has done with previous accidents in aircraft, recommend to the government a certain series of measures and that will be taken incredibly seriously. How that pans out I don’t know.
11.22am BST
As investigators look into safety concerns surrounding airshows, here’s a list of all UK airshow crashes in the past decade.
15 September 2007 Pilot and James Bond stuntman Brian Brown is killed when his Hawker Hurricane fails to pull out of a dive during a mock dogfight at Shoreham airshow, West Sussex.
11.16am BST
Tributes have been paid to three men confirmed to be among the 11 killed in the crash: Matt Jones, a personal trainer, and Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt.
Goalkeeper Grimstone and midfielder Schilt, both 23, were on their way to a 3pm home game against Loxwood FC when they were caught up in the crash. Grimstone’s parents Sue and Phil and brothers David and Paul said:
The family are in total shock at losing our dearest son Matthew so tragically at 23 years old. He was the kindest person you could ever meet with a great wit. In his 23 years, we can honestly say he never lost his temper.
RIP Jacob Shilts & Matthew Grimstone - two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys.
Devastated to have lost two team mates and wonderful people. It was a privilege to share a pitch with you. My heart goes out to your families, RIP. I have four medals I am most proud of, wouldn’t have any of them without you. Numb. RIP Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt. No words ...
Jacob was also 23 years of age, small in stature and a tenacious midfielder, also very skilful with an eye for goal.
At this point we don’t know how or if we will cope with this. Worthing United is a family, part of the football family. We have been moved by the number of tributes to them that we have received from our fellow clubs and from the public.
We have known him for a long time, he was a really nice guy. He had a good job, training to be a fitness trainer. We have spoken to the family, we offered our sympathies. He was a really nice bloke and will be missed.
10.53am BST
The relatives of a young father who has not been heard from since the Shoreham airshow disaster are becoming increasingly worried about his whereabouts. Daniele Polito, of Worthing, was travelling home from work with Matt Jones, the personal trainer who tragically died in the crash, reported the 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 has urged friends not to jump to the conclusion that he had died before anything was known for certain.
10.51am BST
The Press Association’s Tom Pugh reports that a crane has arrived at the scene of the crash to recover the plane.
A crane has arrived on site of the #Shoreham air crash to recover the crashed plane.
10.46am BST
There were reports this morning that pilot Andy Hill was a replacement to fly at Shoreham, sharing duties with a colleague who was on holiday at the time of the incident.
Pilot Andy Hill was a replacement to fly at #Shoreham he shares duties with colleague who was on holiday. Latest @GMB @CharlotteHawkns
As the police and emergency services continue investigating Saturday’s crash at Shoreham Air Show, our thoughts and condolences are with those who have been killed or injured, their families and friends and all those who have been affected by these tragic events.
We would also like to pay tribute to the emergency services and other agencies involved for their work at this distressing time.
10.46am BST
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. Here’s everything we know about the incident so far:
Related: Shoreham air crash: up to 20 people may have died, police say
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