A RETIRED policeman has said he repeatedly warned the authorities someone was going to be killed by planes flying at Shoreham Airport.

David Searle lives just one mile from the airport and has left the town every year for the past decade while Shoreham Airshow runs due to his fears over the dangers – sending 40 letters expressing his worries since 2007.

His main concerns were the close proximity of the airport to houses and people and therefore if there was a serious crash it would be more likely to have greater consequences.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority have knocked back his claims and the airport said they have “never failed” a safety audit.

Mr Searle expressed his concerns over the aircraft flying in close proximity to houses and the impacts a serious crash could have on residents.

The 69-year-old says he wrote letters to the airport and authorities on numerous occasions warning them of the dangers to people on the ground – telling them they were just “one engine failure away from a disaster”.

Mr Searle said: “I was horrified when I heard about this weekend’s crash but I knew it was going to happen.”

He said more needs to be done to police aircrafts once in the air and added, “when the wheels leave the tarmac, the entirety of the responsibility is on the pilot”.

He urged a tougher attitude towards safety.

A spokeswoman for Shoreham Airport said the site came under new management in 2013 – after Mr Searle wrote most of his letters.

She added: “The airport is audited on an annual basis by the CAA and has has never failed an audit. The airport exceeds CAA safety regulations.

“It would be premature and inappropriate for us to comment further about the tragic events at the RAFA Shoreham Airshow, while the joint AAIB and Sussex Police investigation is ongoing.”

Mr Searle said he first became concerned with the airport when he watched a plane skim dangerously close to houses – saying in his first letter he was “fearful for the innocent on the ground”.

A CAA spokesman said: “Every year the CAA carefully reviews hundreds of letters it receives from the public, which contain information relating to a wide range of issues.

“The CAA has robust safeguarding procedures in place, to ensure all aviation safety issues are identified quickly and addressed.

“Many millions of people have attended and enjoyed air shows across the UK, and this recent tragic accident is the first of its kind in more than 60 years.

“Our work over the coming weeks and months will endeavour to ensure any similar tragedy is never repeated.”