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The famous Red Arrows display team has been grounded after a military plane crashed in a forest yesterday.
Both pilots kicked out of the plane before he crashed to the ground near Helston, Cornwalland they are in stable condition in the hospital.
All Hawk T1 aircraft have been temporarily “paused” by the Minister of Defense after the accident.
The scene where the Hawk T1 plane crashed near Helston. Photo: Devon and Cornwall Police
A spokesman said: “Safety is our primary concern. The RAF has decided to temporarily pause operations of the Hawk T1, as a precautionary measure, while investigations continue.
“We will continue to review the situation as more information becomes available.”
The Red Arrows, officially the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, would normally spend this time perfecting their displays for the upcoming show season during the summer months.
Teams spend October through March rehearsing, training and practicing, before heading abroad to finish the routines in predictable weather.
So far, no events have been announced for the arrows for 2021.
The plane that crashed was participating in a training exercise with the crew of Naval Airlift Squadron 736, based in nearby Cornwall.
The pilots were found half a mile from the crash site after being ejected.
The Red Arrows would normally spend this time refining their routines for the upcoming show season.
Witness Layla Astley said: “I saw the plane flying low over our house, I heard a metallic noise, it flew over our fields and then there was a loud crack and we saw two pilots ejecting.
“I watched his parachutes open.
“Then I saw the plane lean to the left and over the top of a hill before I heard a very loud crash. There was no smoke or fire and I heard from the locals that fortunately no one was seriously injured.”
Anyone who finds debris should not touch it and instead report the find to the Devon and Cornwall police.
Chief Inspector Pete Thomas said: “We ask the public to continue to keep their distance from the area while the investigation continues and inquiries are made.”
The investigation will be passed on to the Royal Navy in due course.
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Cornish jet crash scene
Martin-Baker, which makes the ejection seats, says it was the Royal Navy’s first ejection in 18 years.
A post on the company Facebook read: “A Royal Navy Hawk aircraft of the 736 Naval Air Squadron crashed this morning during an RNAS Culdrose flight. Both pilots were successfully ejected.
“This is the first expulsion from the Royal Navy in 18 years and the last was the 7,000 expulsion of Martin-Baker in 2003.”
