Minute's Silence For Pilot After Fatal Crash

A minute's silence has been held at Oulton Park in Cheshire where a jet pilot died during an air display.

Kevin Whyman, who was married with a young daughter, died in the accident during the CarFest event at around 2pm on Saturday.

The 39-year-old was a founding member of the Gnat Display Team and had 10 years' experience in flying a Folland Gnat aircraft.

TV and radio presenter Chris Evans, who created the motoring festival, said police had advised organisers that it was best to continue with the festival's final day on Sunday.

Evans helped organise the event in aid of Children In Need, and was visibly upset as he gave a news conference about the accident on Saturday.

He said: "Just after 2pm, there was a tragic accident - the result of which was one of the pilots involved in a synchro display lost his life.

"Our condolences go out to his family, who have been informed.

"The police have advised us that the best thing, and the safest thing to do, is to carry on with the event - bearing in mind there are 10,000 children here.

"That's what we're going to do."

Mr Whyman's jet was taking part in an aerobatics display with another aircraft when the incident happened.

The Heritage Aircraft Trust, who confirmed the pilot's identity, said: "Kevin was a Royal Air Force-trained fast jet pilot whose enthusiasm for flying the Folland Gnat was infectious.

"He will be greatly missed by his family, the team and many friends."

Former teachers and classmates at The King's School in Chester have paid tribute to Mr Whyman, who left the school in 1994.

His former History Master, Kevin Fear, said: "Kevin was a really lovely lad, who was very popular at school."

Headmaster Chris Ramsey added: "All staff who knew Kevin are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event.

"We offer our sincere condolences from everyone at King's to his wife, parents, family and friends at this awful time."

A statement from the school said Mr Whyman went on to read Economics at Cambridge, where he coxed two boat crews to victory in the annual boat race against Oxford in 1996 and 1997.

Describing the moments leading up to the crash, eyewitness Neil McHugh told Sky News: "(The pilots) were doing some spirals - one seemed to lose control and crashed just beyond the north of the circuit.

"Big, black plumes of smoke have gone up behind the trees and all the emergency vehicles from the circuit have raced up towards it.

"It was flying very low at the time when it seemed to lose control.

"It didn't look like he properly had time to eject and because of the angle of the plane turning in the actual loop, the cockpit head was more pointing towards the ground than upwards."

The CarFest event's website describes it as a "dream of cars, music, food and masses of family fun - a dream conjured up by Chris Evans and brought to life in Cheshire and Hampshire".