A WOMAN has spoken of her horror after witnessing the tragic crash at Biggin Hill Air Show which killed Marlow pilot Guy Bancroft-Wilson.

Mary Stewart and her two children were less than 100 yards away when they saw the Second World War fighter plane nosedive into the ground and explode, instantly killing the father-of-three on Sunday.

Mr Bancroft-Wilson, 43, lived in Dedmere Road, with wife Mandy and three young sons.

Mrs Stewart, of Hughenden Valley, was watching the display at the Kent air show with nine-year-old son Ruaridh and 17-year-old son Alastair.

She said: "It nosedived into an area directly opposite us, creating a frightening fireball and huge pall of smoke. I immediately wrapped my arms around my youngest boy while my elder son stood shocked and white-faced.

"It was the most horrifying accident to witness so close."

Mr Bancroft-Wilson was a member of the world-renowned Red Arrows before joining British Airways as a 737 captain at Gatwick Airport in 1996.

BA colleague Captain Mike Jeffery said: "This is a tragic accident. It is so sad that Guy has been lost and my thoughts are with Mandy and her children."

A spokesman for the airline described Mr Bancroft as "a good pilot, highly professional, well liked and respected by all his colleagues".

Mr Bancroft-Wilson was behind the controls of a 60-year-old American Bell King Cobra when it spiralled out of control and crashed into the ground after he attempted a dive. Another crash the day before killed two other pilots at the popular show.

Mrs Stewart, of Friars Gardens, said she could hear her son Ruaridh's voice on amateur footage taken of the crash which was aired on news broadcasts across the country.

Ruaridh said: "It was very frightening especially the explosion. As the plane was coming down I was thinking it was about to swoop up again. I didn't expect it to go straight down."

Mrs Stewart added: "There was a split-second inevitability that it was going to hit the ground although at the time it seemed to happen in slow motion.

"I don't remember any screams from those around us.

"There was an eerie shocked silence as we stood still, hands to out mouths, staring in disbelief. It was the most awful sickening feeling."

Mrs Stewart said her family had enjoyed many air shows over the years but following the weekend's triple tragedy has vowed never to go again.

An investigation has been launched into the two fatal crashes only the second and third in the show's 39-year history.