Grieving mom asks: Why was air show held near busy road?

The mother of a British soccer player killed in the Shoreham air show crash in southern England has criticized the decision to hold the event in a built-up area near to a main road.

Matthew Grimstone, 23, died alongside his teammate Jacob Schilt, when the car they were travelling in was destroyed by a 60-year-old fighter jet that smashed into Highway A27 in West Sussex on Saturday after failing to successfully complete a loop-the-loop.

On Sunday night, police said it was “highly likely” that at least 11 people had died in the accident, but warned that the death toll could rise as they continued to scour the wreckage.

Grimstone’s mother, Sue, questioned why the show had been allowed to take place near such a busy road. Speaking from her home in Brighton, she said: “Air shows should be over the sea. It should never have been over that road.” She added: “It’s such a waste.” Air accident investigators are examining several pieces of amateur footage of the incident in an effort to understand what caused the plane to crash. Some experts have suggested the plane appeared to stall as it entered the difficult manoeuvre.

It was also suggested that the pilot, Andy Hill, may have momentarily regained control of the jet just before impact, steering the nose upward, explaining how he may have been thrown clear of the blast. He was in critical condition in hospital.

Grimstone and Schilt were among four victims whose names emerged Sunday. Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer, is thought to have died with a friend as they drove home from work Saturday afternoon.

Mark Trussler, 49, a motorcyclist, was also feared to be among the fatalities. Giovanna Chirico, 33, his fiancée, made an appeal for information on Facebook, saying she had not heard from him since the crash.

Another victim is thought to be a limousine driver en route to pick up a bride going to her wedding.