
The devastated families and friends of two footballers and a gym instructor who died in the Shoreham air disaster paid tribute to their loved ones today.

Worthing United goalkeeper Matt Grimstone, 23, and midfielder Jacob Schilt, 23, were among at least 11 people killed in yesterday's horrifying crash.

The teammates were on their way to play against Loxwood in the Southern Combination Football League when they were killed in West Sussex.

Relatives of personal trainer Matt Jones, 24, from Littlehampton revealed that he was on his way home from work with a friend on the A27 at the time.

The Hunter Hawker fighter jet - piloted by Andy Hill, who flies for British Airways - smashed into his BMW 3 Series Coupe in a ball of flames.

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Fireball: At least 11 people were killed when a Hunter Hawker fighter jet crashed into a line of cars on the A27 in West Sussex yesterday

Blast: Three victims have been named and police have warned that the death toll from the Shoreham Airshow disaster is expected to rise

Coming down: This dashcam footage filmed on the A27 in West Sussex shows a long queue of traffic on the road as the plane crashed

Dramatic footage: The Hawker Hunter jet plummeted onto the A27 after it failed to pull out of a loop manoeuvre during an aerial display

His mother Hazel described Mr Jones as an 'absolute diamond' as it emerged that the pilot is fighting for his life in a critical condition.

Mr Grimstone's parents, Sue and Phil, and his two brothers, David and Paul, from Brighton, paid an emotional tribute to the footballer.

They said he was the 'kindest person you could ever meet with a great wit', adding: 'The family are in total shock at losing our dearest son Matthew.

'He has been taken from us at just 23 and we still think he is going to walk through the front door any minute now.'

The family added: 'In his 23 years we can honestly say he never lost his temper.'

Worthing United manager Nigel Geary said Mr Schilt and Mr Grimstone were ‘best friends’ and always travelled to matches together.

‘Matthew was highly talented and very highly thought of,’ he said. ‘At a young age he had a lot of potential.

‘Jacob was very tenacious, he was small for a midfielder and came up against people twice his size but held his own.’

Mr Geary first learned about the crash when some of his players texted him and said they were delayed getting to the match.

He added: ‘A couple of the team were four or five cars behind and saw the plane coming overhead.

Victim: One of the dead has been named as gym instructor Matt Jones (both) who is believed to have died in his BMW 3 Series Coupe

Footballers: Goalkeeper Matthew Grimstone (left) and midfielder Jacob Schilt (right), who died in the crash, were labelled 'absolute gents'

Chilling: The Hawker Hunter narrowly avoided a long line of traffic including a bus before it crashed on the A27 during an attempted loop

On the rise: Police warned that the death toll is expected to rise from eleven. Pictured, investigators and emergency services at the scene

‘The team is very close, we won a double last year and Matt and Jacob were fundamental parts of that side. Without them, we wouldn't have done it.’

Mark Sanderson, Worthing United's secretary, broke down as he described ‘Grimbles’ as ‘a huge talent, quiet and reserved but a brilliant player'.

He added: ‘Jacob was also 23 years of age, small in stature and a tenacious midfielder, also very skilful with an eye for goal.’

Mr Sanderson said the two men played a key part in club's most successful campaign ever last season when it won the league and cup double.

He added: ‘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.’

Mr Grimstone had also worked at Brighton and Hove Albion football club for seven years.

He became an apprentice groundsman in 2013 and was given a full-time role after successfully completing his apprenticeship.

Most recently he worked for the grounds team at its Lancing training ground

He and Mr Schilt both played for an Albion supporters' team in a Robert Eaton Memorial Fund match against Crystal Palace at Lewes in April.

Foam: The plane was completely destroyed, with this section just behind the pilot engulfed in a fireball after it smashed into the ground

Destroyed: The Hawker Hunter crushed a Vauxhall Corsa, pictured, as it desperately tried to gain altitude during its aerobatic display

Smoke: The disintegrating jet sprayed aviation fuel all over the carriageway engulfing a Daimler DS420 which was on its way to a wedding

Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: ‘We are all shocked and deeply saddened by this news.

‘Matt has been part of a great team we have at the club and our thoughts go out to his and Jacob's families at this devastating time.’

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 Mark Sanderson, Worthing United's secretary

The club's chief executive Paul Barber added: ‘Matt's been a very popular member of our groundstaff team and has proved to be an absolute credit to the club and his boss Steve Winterburn.

‘I also got to know Jacob as one of the REMF squad, during the coaching sessions we held leading up to this year's charity match against Crystal Palace.

‘As well as being a very good footballer, Jacob was a popular and impressive young man. It is hard to the find the right words to express the full extent of our shock and sadness at this time.

‘But Matt and Jacob's family and friends are very much in our thoughts - along with all those who've been affected by this terrible tragedy.’

Police said it was 'highly likely' 11 people had died and warned other bodies could be found. A crane will arrive to lift the plane wreckage tomorrow.

The crash site, which stretches for 400 yards on to Shoreham Airfield, has been labelled as 'hazardous' because of the amount of fuel still on the plane.

But officers said that there would be 'no risk' to the public if they stayed behind the cordon.

Sussex Police also announced that the road is likely to be closed for several days while the recovery process continues.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said the status of the jet's ejector seats was yet to be determined.

But he confirmed the pilot was pulled from the burning wreckage and remains in a critical condition.

At least 13 other 'walking wounded' victims have been released from hospital.

Seconds before impact: The pilot tried to pitch his aircraft up in an effort to gain altitude as the jet was just a few feet above the main A27

Flames: The jet left behind a trail of devastation last went on for several hundred yards after it crashed on the A27 yesterday afternoon

Miraculous: Pilot Andy Hill (above), who flies for British Airways, was pulled from the flaming wreckage of his jet and taken to hospital

Critical condition: Mr Hill (pictured in 2009), who is in his 50s, is a very experienced pilot with more than 12,000 hours in the cockpit

Wreckage: Several people were standing across the road watching the airshow from a road junction as the jet exploded into a huge fireball

The driver of a vintage wedding limousine, a motorcyclist and two cyclists are also feared dead. But police have said that emergency services are finding it difficult to identify victims due to the ferocity of the blast.

TWO PLANES COLLIDE IN SECOND AIRSHOW CRASH IN JUST TWO DAYS At least one person died when two small planes collided in the air and crashed at an airshow in northern Switzerland today. The two planes were part of a formation of three and crashed just before 11.30am local time after they touched each other in the air, according to Meinrad Stoecklin, a spokesman for police in Basel-Landschaft. The airshow in the village of Dittingen, near Basel, was temporarily interrupted as rescue teams raced to the scene of the crash, police said. It was not immediately clear if there were more injured people. Swiss media reported that one pilot managed to escape by parachute. The two planes were part of a formation of three planes, but the third plane of the formation was not involved in the crash and landed safely, they reported. Advertisement

Motorcyclist Mark Trussler has been missing since yesterday's devastating crash and his girlfriend Giovanna Chirico has been appealing for information on Facebook.

There are also concerns about a group of spectators who were standing just metres away from where the historic plane crashed.

Specialist recovery teams have begun to remove bodies from the scene with 'every possibility that other victims will be found' during the process, Sussex Police said.

Tributes have been pouring in for the victims from friends, team mates, family and loved ones after the historic jet smashed into lines of waiting traffic after failing to pull up from a loop-the-loop stunt.

Worthing United FC Chairman Steve Taylor said the club is absolutely 'devastated' by the loss of two of their players and said the match on Saturday was cancelled.

He said: 'All we can say is we have two players unaccounted for following the air crash but as yet no families have been informed. We are devastated to be honest.'

A statement from the club said: 'The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Worthing United football club are with those whose families and friends were killed in the air crash yesterday.'

Team mate Dean Gilmour tweeted: 'RIP Jacob Shilt and Matthew Grimstone. Two absolute gents, taken away from us so early in life you will never be forgotten!! Love you boys.'

Tom Betts wrote: 'Such sad news about the two Worthing players who sadly passed away during the plane incident yesterday. Thinking of families and team mates.

'Such a sad day for Sussex football too. Big minutes silence at all grounds this week I hope.'

Jamie McKenzie, who plays for Worthing United FC reserve team, said both players will be remembered as 'really nice down to earth guys'.

He said: 'It's devastating. We're just showing our respect through the club, we had been training with them through the club and they're really nice guys.'

Naomi Cole, who plays for Millwall Lionesses, revealed that she grew up with Mr Schilt and said it has hit her 'pretty close to home'.

Journey: Mr Schilt (left) and Mr Grimstone (right) were on their way to play for non-league Worthing United FC against Loxwood FC

Cup winners: The players' teammates at Worthing United have paid tribute to both Mr Grimstone (circled left) and Mr Schilt (circled right)

Behind the wheel: Mr Grimstone (pictured) had also worked at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club for seven years as groundsman

Motorcyclist: Mark Trussler has been missing since the crash and his girlfriend Giovanna Chirico (together) has asked for help to find him

Posting a statement on Twitter account, the England Under-23 star said: 'I am sending nothing but love and thoughts for the families and friends of Jacob and Matt who were two of the nicest most humble men you'd meet.'

Gary Elphick, the brother of AFC Bournemouth captain Tommy, said: 'It's just devastating news.These were two great young lads who have been taken from us far too soon.'

The family are in total shock at losing our dearest son Matthew. He has been taken from us at just 23 and we still think he is going to walk through the front door any minute now Statement from parents and brothers of crash victim Matt Grimstone

The Football Association said they were 'saddened' to hear of the deaths and released a statement saying: 'Our thoughts are with their family, friends, team-mates and all others affected.'

Friends also paid tribute to Mr Jones on social media, with Holly Slade tweeting: 'Can't believe a family friend of ours died in the shoreham air crash yesterday, rest in peace matt jones.'

Chez Giovannini wrote: 'I am so, so sorry, hun. I can't even try to imagine what you and your family are going through right now.

'I really did think he would of turned up larger than life with a flat battery.'

Mr Jones, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, had moved to Cairns in Queensland, Australia, in 2014 before moving to the state of Victoria, according to his Facebook details. As well as being a personal trainer he once worked on a chicken farm.

His family were too upset to talk as they answered the door to their terraced home in Littlehampton.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘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.’

His sister Becky said she was desperately trying to call her brother after learning the plane had crashed into the dual carriageway, but he did not answer.

The 26-year-old mother thought he was safe when a friend claimed to have seen him on the beach, but it turned out to be a false alarm. She said: 'We have been overwhelmed with hundreds of messages, I can't possibly reply to everyone so thank you.

Remembered: Residents close to the site have also started leaving flowers and tributes to the people who lost their lives in the tragedy

Talking: A resident form Shoreham-by-Sea talks with police officers near to the site where at least 11 people died yesterday afternoon

Emotion: Women lay flowers near to the site where the Hawker Hunter fighter jet crashed onto the A27 road at Shoreham

Memorial: A church service was held at nearby St Mary's and mourners were seen lighting candles to remember those who lost their lives

Aid: The emergency services arrived at the scene only moments after the disaster and managed to pull the pilot from the flaming wreckage

Trainer: Sussex Police said it was 'highly likely' 11 people had died in the tragedy. Pictured, a shoe was seen among the wreckage

'We are just in absolute shock still and devastated that this has happened to us.

We are continuing to search the area to ensure we have identified all the casualties. It's possible that tonight or tomorrow we are going to find more bodies at the scene Superintendent Jane Derrick, Sussex Police

'We love Matt more than anything, he was the best son, brother and uncle to my girls, words can't describe what we are all going through.

'Thank you everyone who has tried to help.'

Dozens of residents filled a church in Shoreham where prayers were said for the air crash victims and their families.

The packed service at St Mary de Haura Church held a minute's silence to mark the tragedy.

Residents close to the crash site have also started leaving flowers and tributes to the people who lost their lives in the tragedy.

South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that 11 people died in the crash, 14 were injured, with four of them taken to hospital.

Superintendent Jane Derrick said: 'Sadly, we believe that eleven people lost their lives today when the jet crashed. As far as we are aware, all those people were on the road and not within the perimeter of the air show.

'We are continuing to search the area to ensure we have identified all the casualties. It's possible that tonight or tomorrow we are going to find more bodies at the scene.

'It's a busy dual carriageway and it was heavy with traffic at the time of the incident. There were several vehicles and a number of bikes.'

Walking: Emergency services and crash investigation officers continue to work at the site where the fighter jet crashed onto the A27

Thick smoke: Sussex Police said it might take several days to reopen the road because it suffered extensive damage in the crash

Fire: The jet smashed into traffic on a busy road and burst into flames after failing to pull up from a loop-the-loop stunt during the airshow

Danger: The jet was seen skimming the tops of trees on the side of the busy road before destroying a number of vehicles on the A27

Response: Emergency services raced to the scene of the crash and were seen covering a Daimler limousine which had its roof sliced off

Footage has emerged showing the single-seater 1950s jet hurtling towards the ground before it exploded into a massive ball of flames and smoke.

Both police and the AAIB have urged anyone with photos or footage of the crash to contact them as it may help with the investigation.

I can't believe I escaped with my life. It seemed to come in at a really strange angle. He just didn't have enough height. I was just thinking, this is coming too close, it's not going to make it, it's not going to make it Terry Smith, witness

An AAIB spokesman said: 'The on-site investigation into the causes of the crash is continuing, with the AAIB team working closely with Sussex Police and local emergency services.

'A preliminary report will be published when the initial stages of the investigation are completed. We ask if any members of the public with footage or photos of the crash could provide them to the AAIB as they could assist the investigation.'

They also warned against posting any particularly 'graphic' images, saying it may upset the families of lost who lost their lives.

Mr Hill, who is in his 50s, is a very experienced pilot with more than 12,000 hours in the cockpit. His wife is also understood to be a very experienced airline pilot.

As the aircraft came to the bottom of its loop, Mr Hill pitched the nose of the aircraft up in a desperate attempt to gain altitude, but the jet continued downwards.

The aircraft, which first entered service with the RAF in 1955, crushed a Vauxhall Corsa which was heading along the A27 passed the airport.

The jet lost control after striking the car and soon broke up, engulfing a vintage Daimler DS420 in a fireball as the disintegrating jet sprayed burning aviation fuel over the carriageway.

The Daimler was on the opposite side of the road, heading from Brighton towards Worthing when it was destroyed.

The casualties in this incident are all believed to have occurred on the road at this time and there are not thought to be any injuries to anyone actually on the airfield.

The Daimler DS420 State Landaulette Limo which was destroyed in the crash was a vintage car hired out for weddings. According to the hire company's website, the car was available for hire in the Brighton area.

THE EIGHT-TONNE HUNTER HAWKER WITH A TOP SPEED OF 715MPH IS OWNED BY AN ESSEX MULTI-MILLIONAIRE The vintage 60-year-old Hawker Hunter that crashed at Shoreham Airshow belonged to wealthy Essex businessman Graham Peacock and is kept with another historic warbird he owns at North Weald Airdrome in Essex. Mr Peacock, who lives in Epping, is the boss of the Malthurst Group with a personal fortune estimated at more than £50 million. His Hunter had passed through the hands of several private owners before he purchased it in 2012 after it had been advertised for sale for £65,000. The advert described the aircraft as 'an immaculate two-seater supersonic T7 which is flown on a regular basis, in excellent condition inside and out.' The cost of flying such a plane - including maintenance, fuel and insurance is around £1,500 an hour and owners often cover their running costs by attending air shows and flying displays. The WV372 model, which crashed at Shoreham Airshow, was built for the Royal Air Force at a factory in Kingston-upon-Thames in the 1950s. The aircraft - one of more than 1,900 to be built - made its first flight on July 17, 1955. It was later sent to West Germany, only returning to the UK to be maintained. In 1971, it became part of the Flying Training School at RAF Valley. It stayed there for eight years before being moved back to West Germany. The plane, which has a maximum speed of 715mph, was transferred to the Royal Navy in November 1984, where it was repainted in dark sea green colours. It was eventually withdrawn from use in September 1996, before being sold at auction the following year. A full restoration programme was started in August 1997 and the aircraft was moved to Exeter Airport under new ownership in January 2011. It became the lead vehicle of a five-ship Hunter team until the group disbanded the following year. The Hawker Hunter plane (pictured) failed to pull out of an aerobatic loop and smashed into the A27 which will remain closed for today Advertisement

A spokesman for Chariots Chauffeurs, based in Lewes, East Sussex said: 'The car was on its way to collect a bride and groom and take them to their wedding. I have not heard from the driver and I am trying to get in contact with his wife.'

The first fire crews were on the scene within seconds of the aircraft coming to a rest and the pilot was pulled from the cockpit, which had broken away from the rest of the air frame.

The Hunter came from the airport and flew over us and did and loop the loop to go back around to the airport, but at the bottom of the loop it just seemed to lose power and went into the ground belly down in a massive ball of flames Tony Wallace, witness

Superintendent Jane Derrick, from Sussex Police, said that at least eleven people died at the scene. All of those who died are believed to have died on the A27 between Worthing and Brighton.

A specialist team of officers are continuing to search the scene of the accident to ensure that they have identified all of the victims.

She said she feared that it is possible that they have not yet recovered all of the bodies and the death toll could possibly increase as they continue to search the area.

Witnesses said the A27 was very busy at the time and there were people standing on a green area near the crash site.

Meanwhile aviation journalist Nicholas Hair said today that people expect to see ‘barrel rolls and loop the loops’ at airshows despite the age of some of the planes.

He told BBC Radio Five Live that the public should be ‘a bit more sensitive’ to the age of ‘museum pieces’ taking part in the spectacles.

But he added that he would ‘hate’ it if for shows which raise ‘raise thousands of pounds for charities every year’ are stopped due to a ‘freak accident’.

It is the second fatal incident at the Shoreham Airshow in recent years.

In September 2007 James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a Second World War Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain.

The Royal Sussex County hospital was put on alert for a major incident and a number of helicopters have been deployed to the scene to evacuate casualties to hospital.

Terry Smith, 50, bravely risked his life to pull stricken people from cars stranded as flames engulfed the A27 in Shoreham.

Scary: Horrifying footage shows the moment the Hawker Hunter smashed into the A27 at Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex yesterday

Picturesque area: Photographers captured the moment the Hawker Hunter exploded in a ball of flames in the seaside town in West Sussex

Map: The Hawker Hunter crashed on the main A27 just north of Brighton City Airport - killing 11 people on the ground, according to police

Shock: Hundreds of spectators looked on in horror after the Hawker Hunter crashed into the ground and instantly burst into a fireball

Coming down: Witnesses described seeing the jet stall during a loop-the-loop stunt at the airshow and fail to complete the manoeuvre

Media talk: Royal Air Forces Association CEO Nick Bunting (left) and Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry (right) speak

He revealed that he was so close to the blaze it scorched his skin, saying: 'I can't believe I escaped with my life.

'It seemed to come in at a really strange angle. He just didn't have enough height. I was just thinking, this is coming too close, it's not going to make it, it's not going to make it.

As it came down, it seemed like it didn't have enough power to lift it up. I saw it just going below the tree and I expected it to come up. But it didn't and suddenly - boom boom. It looked as if it split in half Jason Gunn, witness

'He just slammed into the cars that were queuing. There was this huge fireball and as it went past, it was like something out of a horror movie. It turned into a big black fireball as it went past.

'I just grabbed my daughter and we ran towards the bushes instinctively. I got hit by some of the debris, it scuffed my leg but I wasn't injured.

Witnesses have described seeing the jet stall during a loop-the-loop stunt and fail to complete the manoeuvre before smashing into waiting traffic belly down in a 'massive ball of flames'.

Tony Wallace, 48 from Shoreham, watched the crash from nearby Mill Hill with his friends and two children.

He said: 'The Hunter came from the airport and flew over us and did and loop the loop to go back around to the airport, but at the bottom of the loop it just seemed to lose power and went into the ground belly down in a massive ball of flames.'

'We could see it all; it went down on the A27 by the lights near the airport. That road has been chockablock all day and we can see stationary cars there now. There's still plume of smoke, fire engines and a car covered in foam. It looks like a warzone.

'There are around 200 people watching it here and there was a gasp of horror. If the pilot ejected, we didn't see it.'

Chris from Worthing said: 'It was doing a big loop the loop and I thought, 'That's coming in low' and then there was a massive fireball.

In the air: The 1950s plane was taking part in a display when it encountered a problem and crashed into the ground in a fireball

Vintage: The aircraft continued to lose altitude but the pilot seemed to get the jet's nose pointing up in a desperate attempt to gain height

Gone: The jet disappeared behind the tree line as it was just a few feet above the A27 road which was packed with cars at the time

Explosion: The jet erupted into a fireball as it disintegrated after it slammed into several cars along the A27 just outside the aerodrome

Shocking: Several people in cars travelling on the A27 were killed instantly in the fireball as well as two cyclists who were also on the road

Probe: The Air Accident Investigation Branch has asked anyone with footage of the incident to store it in case they require it later

'It looked like it landed on oncoming traffic on the A27. There were many burnt out cars and motorbikes laying on their side. It was absolute carnage.'

Stephen Jones said: 'The aeroplane involved is a Hawker Hunter T mark 7. And he'd just begun his flying display.

There was a massive fireball and an awful lot of smoke. Afterwards there was a stunned silence. Everyone just went quiet, it's remarkable really. There was no more flying stunts and it's all just been quiet Dave Penwarden, local resident

'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.'

Jason Gunn, 53, said: 'I was watching the display standing on top of my car. As it came down, it seemed like it didn't have enough power to lift it up.

I saw it just going below the tree and I expected it to come up. But it didn't and suddenly - boom boom. It looked as if it split in half.'

The crash at Shoreham was witnessed by thousands of people who had flocked to the first day of the air show, as well as horrified onlookers nearby.

Shoreham resident Dave Penwarden, 51, said he saw the plane explode in a 'massive fireball'.

'The plane was coming out of a loop-the-loop, it was fairly low,' he said.

'It just didn't seem to have enough speed to come out of the loop, instead of powering out it dropped too fast and hit the ground.

'There was a massive fireball and an awful lot of smoke. Afterwards there was a stunned silence.

'Everyone just went quiet, it's remarkable really. There was no more flying stunts and it's all just been quiet.

Debris: Police and emergency services kept stunned onlookers at the airfield while they provided assistance to survivors of the disaster

Down: The plane (circled) was seen skimming the trees along the side of the dual carriageway before crashing into several cars

Ball of smoke: Sussex Police warned local residents that the A27 may remain closed for a number of days while the damage is repaired

Captured from afar: Witnesses said the Hawker Hunter jet plane was performing a loop but did not complete the manoeuvre and crashed

Extraordinary: The plane crashed in a fiery explosion on the nearby A27 and 14 people were treated for minor injuries at the scene

'People are waiting for when they can leave, if you drove then you can't leave and it's going to be hours.'

Another witness David Hough, 76, said he saw the aircraft flying low to the ground.

He is a highly experienced pilot, well-known and well-loved. He is highly professional and it is totally unusual for this to happen. He was a Harrier pilot in the air force. They are the top RAF pilots - the best of the best David Wildridge, pilot

'Suddenly there was a big flash and flames and lots of smoke. Everyone was very quiet and subdued afterwards. A lot of people now can't go home, if you came by car you're stuck.'

The accident happened only a few yards from the front gate of the independent boarding school Lancing College. The college Tweeted following the disaster: 'Our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the plane crash at the Shoreham Airshow this [Saturday] afternoon.'

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent ten appliances to the scene and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau attended the crash.

Friends and fellow pilots have taken to social media to send their best wishes to Mr Hill's family.

One user, known as @PlaneOldBen, wrote: 'I really hope Andy Hill is ok, the RV8TORS were flying at Blackpool Airshow a couple of weeks back whilst I was flying.'

Another, named just as Gareth, wrote: 'Hawker hunter crashed at Shoreham, no ejection by the looks of things. Andy Hill the pilot, I hope some how he got out.'

And Paul Rogers, from West Sussex, added: 'RAFA #Shoreham airshow: the Hawker Hunter has crashed on or near the A27. Terrible news. Our thoughts go out to Andy Hill's (pilot) family.'

Pilot David Wildridge, who had flown with the Tiger Nine display, said: 'He is a highly experienced pilot, well-known and well-loved. He is highly professional and it is totally unusual for this to happen. He was a Harrier pilot in the air force.

'They are the top RAF pilots - the best of the best. It is difficult to make any comment on the crash which would be meaningful until the investigation is complete.

'His wife was also a British Airways captain and our thoughts are with the family. It was just very sad when it happened.'

Cloud: Witnesses have described seeing smoke billowing into the sky just moments after the accident as the plane took part in a display

Horrifying: Witnesses said they saw the jet loosing power during a loop-the-loop and smashing into waiting traffic belly down

Aftermath: Moments after the crash, stunned survivors surveyed the scene of the carnage as a pall of smoke hung low over the sky

Emergency services: Eleven people died and 14 were injured including the pilot who was airlifted to hospital

Fire engines: BBC South East reporter Chrissie Reidy tweeted that the plane hit two cars on the A27 north of Shoreham airport

Eyewitness Alexander Metselaar, 50, who was just 40 yards away, said: 'As the aircraft came down I realised the pilot wasn't going to be able to pull up in time.

RECENT UK AIRSHOW DISASTERS August 2015 - Pilot Kevin Whyman, 35, was killed when his aircraft plummeted from the sky during an aerial display at the CarFest event in Oulton Park, Cheshire. Mr Whyman, an RAF-trained fast jet pilot, started flying the Folland Gnat in 2005 and was one of the founder members of the Gnat Display Team in 2007. April 2015 - Champion aerobatic pilot David Jenkins was killed while showcasing his skills in an Edge 360 plane during a media event to launch the Old Buckenham Airshow in Norfolk July 2012 - Gulf War veteran Trevor Roche, 52, was killed in front of a crowd of 600 spectators when he lost control of a De Havilland DH53 Humming Bird which crashed in gusty winds at Old Warden Aerodrome, near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. November 2011 - Highly-experienced Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham, 35, was fatally injured when he was ejected from the cockpit of a Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. A coroner ruled that the safety pin on the ejector seat had been 'entirely useless'. August 2011 - Red Arrows Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, was piloting a Hawk T1 when it came down into a field after he pulled six times the force of gravity at an air show near Bournemouth Airport, killing him instantly. September 2007 - James Bond stuntman Brian Brown, 49, died when he crashed a Second World War Hurricane after carrying out an unplanned barrel roll at a re-enactment of the Battle of Britain at Shoreham Air Show, West Sussex. Advertisement

'It struck car after car, with each vehicle bursting into flames.

'For a second or two there was a stunned silence at the airshow, then children who witnessed the crash started screaming their heads off.'

Ailish Southall was driving along the A27 with her two children when the plane came down just 45 feet from her car.

She said: 'We were waiting for the aircraft to go back up and it didn't - it seemed to kind of split in two. There were huge amounts of fire and we ran from the car to avoid the debris.'

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said the accident was 'tragic' and said everybody's 'thoughts and prayers must be with the families and casualties'.

Airshow officials confirmed there had been 'a major incident outside the airfield boundary', tweeting that emergency services are responding.

Police have advised motorists to avoid the A27 in the Shoreham area for rest of today as both carriageways were closed between the A293 turn off for Shoreham Harbour and the A2025. The closures are likely to remain in place for the rest of the day.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: '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 A27 has been closed in both directions and drivers are asked to avoid the area until further notice.'

The Hawker Hunter is a British jet plane known for its manoeuvrability and speed.

The jet, serial number WV372, was built for the Royal Air Force at a factory in Kingston-upon-Thames in the 1950s.

The aircraft - one of more than 1,900 to be built - made its first flight on July 17, 1955. It was later sent to West Germany, only returning to the UK to be maintained.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has asked anyone who has video footage or still images of the tragedy to keep them in case they are needed.

Prime Minister David Cameron sent his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of those who died in the crash.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister sends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who were so tragically killed after a jet crashed into several vehicles in West Sussex.

'The Prime Minister's thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims.'

Footage and pictures of the incident can be sent to police, who urge people to contact them on shoreham.airshow2015@sussex.pnn.police.uk before sending any files.

Fears: Sussex Police said they believed more bodies could be found as the emergency services continue their search of the crash area

In flight: The Hawker Hunter, serial number WV372, was built for the Royal Air Force in the 1950s but was now being flown by civilians

Press conference: Superintendent Jane Derrick said the emergency services were still searching the scene for any additional bodies

Investigation: Air crash investigators will try to determine why the aircraft failed to pull out of its roll in time and crashed into several cars

Flames: When the aircraft started to disintegrate, its aviation fuel was sprayed around the carriageway creating an inferno

Caught on camera: Eleven people on the ground died and the plane was destroyed, but the pilot was pulled from the flaming wreckage