Nationals call for tighter airshow safety rules

Front pages of nearly every national daily were devoted to the tragic incident for the second consecutive day, as tributes to the first-known victims were carried in detail.

But many nationals turned attention to the future of airshows, with calls to tighten the rules on how shows are run.

The Telegraph called for events to be ‘over the sea’, leading with quotes from Sue Grimstone, mother of footballer, Matthew, who died in the crash.

She said: “Air shows should be over the sea. It should never have been over that road. It’s such a waste.”

The Times referred to the crash – the death toll of which may now be up to 20 – as the ‘worst’ airshow disaster in a generation.

It referenced the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and speculated whether new rules could see crowds made to stand further away and new stunt rules put in place.

The Mirror and Independent also refer to the CAA but aviation expert Anthony Davis is quoted in the Mirror assuring readers safety measures are already strict.

He said: “While aerobatic displays are designed to look spectacular and risky, every manoeuvre is meticulously planned and rehearsed, with safety at the forefront of every decision.”

The Metro and Star both carried pictures of the known victims, with tributes to Mr Grimstone, Jacob Schilt and Littlehampton man Matt Jones.

The Sun led with the story of grandmother Vivien Ayling, who sped through the crash fireball to safety.

The 67-year-old said: “I saw it coming towards me, head-on. All I thought was, ‘I need to get away fast’. It was all in slow motion, I imagine it’s what an atomic bomb would be like.”