A pilot was in a critical condition in hospital on Sunday following a crash at a British airshow that killed seven people when his plane plunged into a busy road.

The historic Hawker Hunter military jet failed to pull up out of a loop at the Shoreham Airshow on the southeast English coast on Saturday, and hit several cars, creating a fireball that sent thick, black smoke billowing into the sky.

The pilot was airlifted to hospital where he is in a critical condition, Sussex Police said, though they were unable to say whether he had ejected from the plane.

"As far as we are aware all those who sadly lost their lives were on the road," said the county force's Superintendent Jane Derrick.

"At this time we are continuing to search... the area to ensure that we have identified all the casualties.

"It is possible that... we are going to find more bodies at the scene."

Fourteen people sustained minor injuries, four of whom were taken to hospital.

Footage of the crash showed the jet attempting to perform a loop manoeuvre high in the air. The plane banked up steeply, turned over but did not complete the loop in time to avoid hitting the ground.

The crash happened at around 1:20 pm (1220 GMT) Saturday. The plane hit the A27, a major road that runs along England's southeast coast.

Pictures from the scene showed police had cordoned off the four-lane dual carriageway road, with ambulances, fire crews and emergency service helicopters in attendance. Debris was visible across the road.

Eyewitness Chris Watkins told the BBC: "The Hunter came across the airfield, did a turn behind us and as it swooped down to do its run across the airfield it just ploughed straight in to the road and the trees."