New estimate of potential death toll comes as calls grow for the rules governing airshows to be tightened

As many as 20 people may have died in the Shoreham air crash on Saturday, police have said, as calls grow for the rules governing airshows to be tightened.

Police will begin lifting the wreckage of the 1950s Hawker Hunter, which plummeted on to the the A27 after it failed to pull out of a loop manoeuvre during an aerial display.

Police said on Sunday that they feared 11 people had died but Asst Ch Con Steve Barry of Sussex police said on Monday this figure could rise further.

“To give people a sense of scale and also the number of people we are trying to work with in terms of the movements of their loved ones, then I would be really surprised if it would be more than 20,” he said.

Saturday’s crash has prompted questions over whether the aerobatic display should have taken place next to a busy road.

The fate of a group of bystanders caught on camera at the scene of the crash is unknown.

The mother of one of the Shoreham victims said on Sunday that aerobatic displays should be held over the sea, and not in built-up areas.

Sue Grimstone, from Brighton, told the Daily Telegraph that the death of her son, Matthew, 23, was “a waste”, adding: “Airshows should be over the sea. It should never have been over that road.”

Footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, 23, who played for non-league Worthing United, died in the crash, with reports saying they were on their way to a match against Loxwood FC when they were caught up in the incident.

Grimstone’s family said he was “the kindest person you could ever meet, with a great wit”. His parents, Sue and Phil, and brothers, David and Paul, paid tribute, saying: “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.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jacob Schlit, Matthew Grimstone and Matt Jones. Shoreham victims. Photograph: Facebook

John Turner, chairman of the British Air Display Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the crash was “absolutely tragic” but said authorities should make sure they understood why it occurred before changing regulations.

“We’ve had 63 years of accident-free airshows in the UK and that reflects the rules and regulations that we have in place,” Turner said.



“There will obviously be a review once all the effects are known. The important thing for us is that we don’t speculate over the issues and what caused this particular accident. We must find the facts and go from there.”

Turner did not rule out the possibility that further rules should be introduced regarding the location of air displays, adding. “Our considerations will be no different from those of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, with a completely clear sheet.”

Matt Jones, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Littlehampton, was also on the A27 when the vintage aircraft plunged from the sky, with his sister confirming he too had been killed.



The driver of a vintage wedding limousine, the rider of a motorbike and two cyclists were also feared dead, but police have said that emergency services were finding it difficult to identify victims owing to the ferocity of the blast.

The pilot of the Hawker Hunter jet, who also flies for British Airways, remains in a critical condition after being pulled from the wreckage and airlifted to Royal Sussex hospital.

Police said efforts to sift through the wreckage left by the crash would take “days rather than hours”, as anxious family members and friends continued to wait for news of others who have been killed.

A crane is expected to lift the wreckage of the aircraft later on Monday, when police fear more bodies may be discovered. The site of the crash stretches for more than 360 metres, and has been described as hazardous because of the amount of fuel still on the plane.

The Royal Air Forces Association confirmed reports that the pilot flying the Hunter on Saturday was not originally due to be doing so, but added that it was “entirely routine” for pilots to switch duties and said the decision was taken over a month ago.

“The team at Shoreham have many years of experience in running airshows throughout the UK and all aircraft have to be certificated and all pilots authorised by the CAA before they are allowed to undertake display routines at any airshow. The airshow itself has to meet rigorous safety standards that are laid down by the CAA who review these on an ongoing basis.”

