UK: 'One dead' in airshow crash

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_886000/886064.stm

An aircraft ditched into the sea off the Sussex coast during an air show.

The pilot of the plane, an L-39 Albatross trainer, died when it crashed into the sea 800 metres off the coast at Eastbourne on Friday at 1420 BST.

The jet was taking part in the town's annual airshow. Spectators have been cleared from the beach.

A Sussex Police said: "It is a two-seater but only one seat was occupied. We do not know at this stage who the pilot was.

"All flying as part of the show has been suspended for the rest of the day."

Investigation

A spokesman for the Air Accident Investigations Bureau said that three inspectors were on their way to the scene to begin investigating the crash.

Thousands of visitors to the three-day free show watched in horror as the plane hit the sea after failing to pull out of a turn during an aerobatic display.

A coastguard spokesman said the body was being brought ashore by the Eastbourne inshore lifeboat.

Eyewitness Richard Stofer told BBC News 24: "People were quite horrified."

Mr Stofer said of the show: "It's a major event. There was a crowd of around 3,000.

"I was only thinking we have never had a major accident down here."

-- Jim McAteer (jim_mcateer@hotmail.com), August 18, 2000

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