AN AVIATION expert ruled out yesterday the age of the plane causing the air crash in Shoreham after aerobatic display safety was called into question.

Julian Bray said he was “sure the age of the (1950s Hawker Hunter) aircraft was not a problem” as it would have been subject to rigorous safety checks before Saturday’s disaster in West Sussex, in which 20 people are feared to have died.

He said that the crash may have been caused by “flameout” — when the flame extinguishes in the combustion engine — which would make the aircraft fly out-of-control.

Footage shows pilot Andrew Hill, who remains in critical condition, trying to steer his plane towards woodland, Mr Bray suggested, to avoid killing spectators after attempting a loop-the-loop stunt.

The plane hit the A27 road below and burst into flames, killing at least 11 people.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has placed new restrictions on air shows while a thorough investigation is made.