Widow of Red Arrows pilot killed in crash speaks out (VIDEO)

The widow of Red Arrows pilot Jon Egging, killed when his plane crashed minutes after an aerobatic display Saturday at the Bournemouth Air Festival, said she was "overwhelmed" by tributes paid to him.

Meanwhile, a British paper is reporting that the crash may have been caused by a "catastrophic bird strike."

Mourners converged on Bournemouth Air Festival on Sunday, a day after Egging was killed when his plane crashed minutes after an aerobatic display Saturday.

The BBC, meantime, has collected quotes from eyewitnesses to the crash, among them that: 

"I heard a rushing sound and I saw a plane about 15 meters above the ground racing across the fields.

"It impacted and bounced across the field — made it across the river.

"Members of the public jumped into the water to search for the cockpit."

Aviation enthusiasts and people living close to where the Royal Air Force plane came down reportedly paid tribute to the 33-year old pilot from Rutland for avoiding houses and crashing in a field on the edge of Bournemouth at 1.50pm on Saturday.

The Guardian reports of the gathering:

Thousands of people queued to sign books of condolence and lay floral tributes to Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, who crashed into a field minutes after performing with the Red Arrows on Saturday in front of an estimated 300,000 spectators.

Out of respect for Egging, the Guardian reports:

The festival's final day of events went ahead as planned but a display by the Red Arrows was canceled after the squadron's first fatal crash in 33 years.

The Festival observed one minute's silence before the start of Sunday's display, the BBC reports.

Egging's widow, Emma Egging, meanwhile, told the British broadcaster that she has been overwhelmed by the tributes paid in the wake of his "devastating" loss.

Emma Egging, who married Jon Egging last June and described him as "an amazing friend and husband," reportedly said:

"The tributes that have poured in over the last two days… both online and here in Bournemouth have just been astounding.

"It's very heartfelt when I say thank you to everybody, both personally on my behalf and on Jon's behalf and I know the Red Arrows are completely bowled over by the support."

The RAF is reportedly investigating the crash.

(GlobalPost reports: Red Arrows fatal crash at Bournemouth under military investigation)

However, the Daily Mail newspaper cited a "senior RAF source" as saying that remains at the crash site suggested a "catastrophic bird strike" could have brought down Egging's plane.

The Daily Mail also quoted Egging’s grandmother, Doris Egging, as saying relatives were told that "the pilot may have been unable to eject from the stricken jet because of the huge G-forces encountered when he banked at too sharp an angle."

Even so:

The pilot managed to set the Hawk on a path away from homes in the nearby village of Throop, and issued a Mayday call and is thought to have been thrown from the wreckage on impact.