A pilot was killed when an aircraft taking part in an aerial show plummeted to the ground in front of horrified spectators.
The accident happened shortly after 2pm at the CarFest event in Oulton Park, Cheshire, created by TV and radio presenter Chris Evans.
Evans told reporters: "There was a tragic accident, the result of which was that one of the pilots involved in a synchro display lost his life."
The visibly-upset presenter added: "Our condolences go out to his family who have been informed.
"The police have also advised us that the best thing and the safest thing to do is to carry on with the event bearing in mind that there are 10,000 children here - and that is what we are going to do."
He said it would be "completely inappropriate" to speculate on how the accident happened. Evans said he would give a tribute to the pilot at a later point.
An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) spokesman said: "AAIB will be investigating and is sending a team to the site."