Pilot dies during air show in Britain

A pilot has died today in the second fatal incident to occur at the Biggin Hill show in Britain this weekend.

A pilot has died today in the second fatal incident to occur at the Biggin Hill show in Britain this weekend.

The single-seater Second World Waat the Kent air show fighter exploded in a ball of flames, organisers say.

The incident comes a day after two men died at the same show when their De Havilland Vampire crashed.

Mr Nick Smith, spokesman for the event, said of the latest incident: "The aircraft was displaying when it appeared to lose control and he wasn't able to recover in the height available to him."

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He said the airshow had been halted.

An eyewitness said: "It was flying in a fly-past along the main runway and it just plummeted down into the middle of the airfield. There was a huge burst of orange flames and thick black smoke. Everyone stopped in a state of shock."

The accident yesterday happened as the De Havilland Vampire was halfway through the day's final display with a Vixen plane, when it spiralled out of control.

The 1950s jet had flown four times over the crowd before trying to turn when it corkscrewed twice before plummeting from the sky into a ridge. The plane came down around 100 yards from a row of terraced houses, showering some gardens with debris.

PA