The Red Arrows have been grounded
it's after a Royal Navy jet crashed in Cornwall yesterday
Last updated 26th Mar 2021
The RAF has grounded all its Hawk T-1 planes including Scampton's Red Arrows. It's after a Royal Navy jet crashed in Cornwall yesterday.
Two pilots are in hospital after ejecting before it came down in woodland.
The two seater Hawk T 1 is the same model of jet used by the red arrows, and the RAF has now grounded all those planes.
The M-O-D says pausing operations is a precautionary measure while investigations are carried out.
Earlier this week the Red Arrows were out over the skies of Lincolnshire
The crew from the 736 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose at Helston, Cornwall, ejected from the jet during the incident on Thursday morning.
The two-seater Hawk T1, crashed in woodland in the St Martin area near Helston during a training exercise.
All Hawk T1 aircraft across the services have been temporarily "paused" amid an investigation into the incident, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
A spokeswoman said in a statement: "Safety is our paramount concern. The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 operations, as a precautionary measure, while investigations are ongoing.
"We will continue to review the situation as further information becomes available".
The pilots, who were found about half a mile from the main crash site having safely ejected, remain in a stable condition "without significant injury", Devon and Cornwall Police said.
The force said the crew were treated at the scene after ejecting and were then flown by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Eyewitness Layla Astley said: "I saw the plane flying low over our house, I heard a clunking sound, it flew on over our fields and then there was a loud crack and we saw two pilots ejecting.
"I watched as their parachutes opened.
"I then saw the plane bank left and over the top of a hill before hearing a very loud bang. There was no smoke or fire and I hear from locals that thankfully no-one was seriously hurt".
The investigation will be handed over to the Royal Navy in due course.
Ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker said it was the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years.
The company wrote on Facebook: "A Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron crashed this morning during a flight from RNAS Culdrose. Both pilots ejected successfully.
"This is the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years with the last being Martin-Baker's 7,000th ejection back in 2003".