The military jet which was taking part in the Shoreham Airshow crashed in southern England on Saturday, hitting several cars on a major highway.

Several others were injured in the collision on the A27 near Brighton in the county of West Sussex at around 1.20 p.m. local time (1220 UTC). One person was in a critical condition.

Emergency services said the victims had all died at the scene, local media reported.

The aircraft ended up in a nearby bush after crashing as it attempted a loop maneuver as part of the air show entertainment.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of "carnage," having seen many burnt-out cars and motorcycles laying on their side.

One British media report said the pilot managed to escape before the crash while another says he was pulled alive from the wreckage.

The single-seater plane, a Hawker Hunter fighter jet dating back to the 1950s, was taking part in a the Shoreham Air Show, an annual event that attracts about 20,000 people.

Images from the scene showed a giant fireball and smoke billowing from the wreckage.

Police said the road, which links several southern English cities and towns, would remain closed for several hours.

This is the second accident at the Shoreham Airshow. In 2007, a World War Two Hurricane crashed after carrying out a barrel roll.

mm/se (AP, Reuters, AFP, dpa)