Seven confirmed dead after Hawker Hunter jet crashes near Shoreham Airshow

Seven people have died after a Hawker Hunter jet plane crashed onto a busy A-road after performing for festival-goers at the Shoreham Airshow. Fourteen other people are being treated at the scene, after the plane hit stationary vehicles when it crashed.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust confirmed to the BBC that fatalities were declared at the scene and added that another patient with serious life-threatening injuries has been transported to the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The condition of the plane's pilot is not known.

A statement by the Shoreham Airshow said: "At about 1.20pm an aircraft hit several cars on the A27 just to the north of Shoreham Airport, where the Shoreham Airshow is taking place. There have been several casualties, but we have no further information on these at the moment."

A video of the crash has been published online showing the plane bursting into flames.

Eyewitnesses said the plane may have been attempting a somersault manoeuvre before it came down on the A27 at the two-day show in West Sussex at around 1.45pm. Stephen Jones told the BBC that the plane was performing a loop but did not complete the manoeuvre and crashed.

"The aeroplane involved is a Hawker Hunter T mark 7," he said. "And he'd just begun his flying display. He'd gone up into a loop and as he was coming out of the loop I just thought, you're too low, you're too low, pull up. And he flew straight into the ground either on or very close to the A27, which runs past the airport."

One eyewitness, tweeting as Jon B, said: "It turned from the north by Lancing College, went to go low towards the airfield and went behind some trees below where I was. Then there was a crunch sound and a ball of flames and thick black smoke came up from the ground."

The A27 is closed in both directions and drivers are asked to avoid the area until further notice. A statement on the Sussex Police website says: "At about 1.20pm the aircraft hit several cars on the A27 just to the north of Shoreham Airport, where an air display is taking place. The aircraft ended up in a bush. There have been several casualties but we have no further information on these at the moment."

The single-seat Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet first developed in the 1950s. It is one of more than 50 aircraft being featured at the Shoreham Airshow, which marks the 75th anniversary Battle of Britain.