Air Shows To Be 'Significantly Restricted'

"Significant" restrictions on UK air shows are being introduced in the wake of the fatal jet crash in Shoreham at the weekend.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has imposed new rules "until further notice" while the authorities conduct an investigation.

The regulator said vintage aircraft displays over land will be limited to flypasts.

Eleven people are thought to have died after the 1950s Hawker Hunter aircraft ploughed into the A27 on Saturday - but police have warned this could rise.

The accident happened after the jet failed to pull out of an aerial loop in front of 20,000 spectators.

A statement by the regulator added: "The CAA will conduct additional risk assessments on all forthcoming civil air displays to establish if additional measures should be introduced."

Sue Grimstone, whose son Matthew died in the accident, called for changes to the air show.

"It's such a waste," Ms Grimstone told The Daily Telegraph. "Air shows should be over the sea. It should never have been over that road."

There were reports today that the Red Arrows would not perform their full aerobatic programme at the event because they saw it as too risky.

A source told the Daily Mirror that they would only perform a straight fly-past, with red, white and blue smoke coming out the back of the jets.

But this morning, Shoreham Airshow organisers, the Royal Airforces Association (RAA), defended the event's safety record.

It said "pilots and aircraft must meet rigorous safety requirements and are regularly reviewed to ensure they provide the highest possible levels of protection".

The RAA added: "The air show itself has to meet rigorous safety standards that are laid down by the CAA, who review these on an ongoing basis."

The plane's remains, which were being removed from the crash scene on Monday, could be taken to the hangar of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Farnborough for forensic examination.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "The Government is offering its full support to both the Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch to ensure everything possible is being done to find out what happened and ensure air displays take place safely and follow the highest standards."

Aviation expert Julian Bray said the outcome of any investigation may not be known for several years.

"In this particular case, they will not only learn the lessons, but there is going to be a huge investigation," he said.

"The investigation will probably take a couple of years at least and then a very detailed report will come out.

"They have got to recover the fuselage and they will probably take it to Farnborough or they might hire a private warehouse. They will reconstruct the whole aircraft as far as they can to find out what happened.

"Hopefully the pilot will survive and will be able to assist with the debrief."

The pilot of the crashed plane, Andy Hill, remains in a critical condition in hospital, where he is in a medically-induced coma.

Restrictions imposed by the CAA on the use of Hawker Hunter aircraft following the crash remain in place.

Meanwhile, there will be no air display programme at this weekend's CarFest South event, organisers have said.