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UK imposes curbs on vintage aircraft after Shoreham crash

August 24, 2015

Britain's aviation authority has imposed new restrictions on vintage aircraft at air shows. This comes days after a plane crashed into a highway in the south of England, claiming the lives of at least 11 people.

https://p.dw.com/p/1GKvV
Flugzeugabsturz in Shoreham
Image: picture alliance/empics/ D. Leal-Olivas

A statement released by the Civil Aviation Authority on Monday said it had ordered that flying displays by vintage aircraft "will be significantly restricted until further notice." It said that such displays would be limited to flybys and that "high energy" maneuvers were banned - with immediate effect.

On Saturday, the CAA had already imposed restrictions on all flights of Hawker Hunter aircraft, shortly after a plane of this model came crashing down onto cars on the A27 road after failing to pull out of a looping maneuver during the Shoreham air show.

Police have said that at least 11 people were killed in the crash, and that the death toll could rise as work continued to clear up the wreckage. A crane was brought in on Monday to help remove the remains of the aircraft.

The pilot, 51-year-old former Royal Air Force instructor Andrew Hill, survived the crash but was listed in a critical condition.

Through police, his family issued a statement expressing their sadness at the loss of life.

"They send their prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected at this difficult time," the police statement said.

The Hawker Hunter was developed in Britain for the Royal Air Force in the 1950s as a fighter aircraft and was also exported for use by air forces in other countries, including India, Sweden and Switzerland.

pfd/lw (Reuters, AP, AFP)