British Vintage Jet Crashes Into Hillsboro Neighborhood

Thousands attending the Hillsboro Airshow saw something they weren't expecting as a vintage jet tragically plunged into a neighborhood.

Hawker jet was similar to this aircraft Photo courtesy: daylight.com

(HILLSBORO) - A 1959 British Hawker Hunter participating in the 2006 Oregon International Air Show crashed into a residential neighborhood near the Hillsboro Airport, setting at least two homes on fire just after 4:30 PM Sunday.

The pilot, is reportedly a lawyer from California.

Connie King, a spokeswoman for the Hillboro Fire Department, said three homes were hit, one took a direct hit in the middle, and that so far there are no reports of any injuries on the ground.

The air show was immediately canceled and the streets in that section of Hillsboro were in gridlock.

The plane crashed near NE 60th Ave and Harvest Street.

A witness, Josh Boer, told a Portland television station that a house "literally exploded" when the plane hit and sent out a fire bomb that lit two other homes on fire.

One witness, a pilot said it appeared to him that it was a stall and spin accident.

Witnesses also said it appeared that the pilot was trying desperately to crash land the plane in nearby fields