Red Arrows pilot killed in incident at RAF Scampton

[Jordan]

Red Arrows pilot killed in incident at RAF Scampton



A Red Arrows pilot has died after being ejected from an aircraft at the aerobatic team's base in Lincolnshire.

The RAF confirmed that the pilot was ejected from a Hawk T1 jet while it was on the ground at RAF Scampton.

The Military Aviation Authority is carrying out an independent inquiry to determine the cause of the incident.

Gp Capt Simon Blake said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

The pilot's family have been told and have asked for a period of grace until his name is released.

Gp Capt Blake said: "It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the incident until that inquiry is complete. The investigation will determine the facts."

Lincolnshire Police earlier confirmed they were attending an incident at Scampton, but did not comment further.

East Midlands Ambulance crews were called to the scene at about 11:09 GMT, along with the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

'Massive bang'

Eyewitnesses close to RAF Scampton reported seeing one of the Hawk aircraft with a smashed canopy, according to BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.

Aircraft designed for low-level flying - such as the Hawk - have ejection seats which fire through the canopy, he said.
Chris Boatman, who lives nearby, said he heard a "massive bang".

"A few hours ago my children and I heard a massive bang that echoed across from the runway area to our house," he said.
"Not long after that an air ambulance flew a few metres over the house."

The incident comes a few months after Red Arrows pilot Jon Egging died after his plane crashed after a display near Bournemouth Airport.

A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was multiple injuries.

Flt Lt Egging, who grew up in Southam, Warwickshire, joined the RAF in 2000 and served with IV (AC) Squadron, based at RAF Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9 in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The Red Arrows team was formed in 1965 and have completed more than 4,300 displays in 53 countries.

The team completed their final display of the season in September and are currently carrying out their winter training at RAF Scampton.

Pretty horrible to see another one of them go.

[Stephen]

Damn I'd hate to die doing that. Not even a crash, reminds me of the end of johnny english where he presses the ejector seat and sends the woman flying

[xxMATTGxx]

Such a shame! Thoughts to his family and friends

[DPS]

After this i see them getting rid of the red arrows.

[GommeInc]

After this i see them getting rid of the red arrows.

Hopefully not, if anything the red arrows team should consider checking over their aircraft and making them safer - maybe modifying them slightly as I assume they're quite old now.

Horrible to see this. I'm not entirely sure what they meant by the way it ejected. It says "ejected through the canopy" which to me sounds like it shoots down rather than up in traditional ejected seat fashion, which obviously would result in serious damage or death. Is this correct as I am only guessing?

[Slowpoke]

It's so strange that he ejected himself when stationary. How did he manage that? Surely he couldn't of just accidentally pushed/pulled the ejector switch? I would imagine that there are precautions to stop this happening! Or maybe there is more to this...

[Jazz]

I was shocked when I heard about this, thoughts go out to his family

[beth]

it's terrible that there have been red arrows tragedies so close to eachother. i heard this morning on the radio they're grounding all aircraft with the same ejection seat system or something?!

[xxMATTGxx]

All aircraft that is used by the MoD that uses that same ejector seat has been grounded I believe. Probably to make sure its not a fault with the actual design and things. I doubt they will get rid of the red arrows because of this.
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