Horror at Madrid airshow as thousands watch historic jet plunge to the ground and explode in huge fireball killing the pilot

A pilot has died after the historic jet he was flying at an airshow in Spain today plunged into a building and exploded in a huge fireball in front of horrified spectators.
A spokesman for the country's Defense Ministry said the pilot, Ladislao Tejedor Romero, died of his injuries in the serious burns unit of Getafe Hopsital in Madrid.
The aircraft crashed into a hanger and exploded at an airfield in the southwest of the capital in front of stunned witnesses, one of whom captured the crash on film.

Explosion: A plane crashed at an airshow in Madrid today, sending a giant fireball into the sky and severely injuring the pilot who later died in hospital in Madrid

Stunned: Witnesses, some holding their heads in disbelief, looked on in shock as the plane entered a dive and crashed into a building, causing a massive explosion

Historic jet: The plane that crahsed was a HA-200 Saeta, built in the 1950s as an advanced jet trainer by Hispano Aviacion and was later given an attack capability

Experienced: The 35-year-old pilot was assistant to Defense Minister Pedro Morenes and was flying one of the first jet-propelled planes to be manufactured in Spain

Horror: An official said the cause of the crash was not known, but state broadcaster RTVE spoke to one witness who described seeing the plane dive before crashing

Around 3,000 people were at Cuatro Vientos airfield watching a showcase of aerial acrobatics and vintage aircraft when the drama unfolded before them.
The 35-year-old experienced jet pilot and assistant to Defense Minister Pedro Morenes was flying one of the first jet-propelled planes to be manufactured in Spain.

The plane, a HA-200 Saeta, was a built in the 1950s as an advanced jet trainer by Hispano Aviacion, ministry spokesman Alfredo Florenza said. It was later given an attack capability.
Florenza said the cause of the crash was not known. Video footage shows the plane performing a steep dive at high speed ahead of the crash.

Wreckage: A smashed wing from the crashed aircraft lies among parked cars, some of which were badly damaged by the aircraft before it hit the building

Crash site: An official stands guard in a car park by the aerodrome, where debris from the plane and trees it had crashed into litter the area

DAILYMAIL