Politics
Elite acrobatic pilots halted after Hawk jet crash in Cornwall
THE Red Arrows have been grounded after a Hawk jet crashed in Cornwall yesterday.
The two pilots of a Hawk T1 escaped unharmed after ejecting from the doomed aircraft shortly after takeoff.
It was the first ejection in 18 years[/caption]
It was the first ejection since 2003, which was the 7,000th life saved since the ejection seat was engineered in 1944.
They were part of 736 Naval Air Squadron and were taking part in a war games exercise when the two seater training jet suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure near their base at RNAS Culdrose.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has grounded all remaining Hawk T1s – the fleet includes 14 Red Arrows, 8 Navy jets and 22 RAF planes – as a precaution pending an investigation.
An MoD spokesman said: “The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 operations, as a precautionary measure, while investigations are ongoing.
The wreckage seen at the site of a crashed Hawk jet in Helston, March 25.[/caption]
“We will continue to review the situation as further information becomes available.”
The crash comes days after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he was axing 36 of the aircraft as part of the deepest cuts to the military in more than 300 years.
The Sun understands the aircraft suffered a sudden mechanical failure seconds after take-off and the pilots made the life-saving decision to eject.
Residents heard a clunking sound and a loud explosion as the Hawk T1 roared over their homes near the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose on the Lizard.
The fleet of Hawk T1s includes 14 Red Arrows, 8 Navy jets and 22 RAF planes[/caption]
Officials said the pilots, from 736 Naval Air Squadron, had only suffered minor injuries and were checked over in hospital before being discharged.
Eyewitness David Hoskin, a farmer, said he heard an “unbelievable bang” and saw two people ejecting from the plane.
He found the two men “in fairly good spirits” and “chatting” in a field near the crash scene.
One had “cuts and bruises” on his face from landing in trees next to the field.
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“The pilot was very concerned about the whereabouts of the jet,” he said.
“He said they aimed to put it in the Helford River but we saw it heading away from the river.”
Officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the famous display team The Red Arrows would typically be spending this time perfecting their displays for the upcoming display season during the summer months.
