COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A Red Arrows pilot has died after being accidentally ejected from his plane while it was still on the tarmac during a training session at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire.

Ambulance crews were called to the scene at RAF Scampton shortly after 11am this morning, after an incident involving one of the squadron's Hawk jets.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the aircraft was not airborne at the time although reports suggested the accident was “serious”.

The pilot was taken to Lincoln County Hospital.

An MoD spokesman said: "I can confirm there has been an incident at RAF Scampton. The RAF are investigating and will provide more details when they are available."

He later confirmed that the pilot had died from multiple injuries sustainted during the accident, thought to have involved his being ejected from the cockpit while his jet was still on the ground, before his parachute failed to deploy.

A jet with a smashed front canopy could be seen on the tarmac outside the RAF hangar at the base, it was claimed.

The incident followed the death of Red Arrows pilot Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, 33, who was killed in an air show crash near Bournemouth Airport in Dorset in August.

Tragic Red Arrows pilot grew up in Coventry

THE Red Arrows pilot who died in a tragic ground incident was Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham from Coventry, it has emerged.

Flight Lieutenant Cunningham died in hospital after his ejector seat activated while his aircraft was still on the ground at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire yesterday.

The 35-year-old grew up in Binley and attended Ernesford Grange School in Princethorpe Way.

Flt Lt Cunningham was the second Red Arrows pilot to be killed in less than three months after Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, 33, died in an air show crash in Dorset in August.

He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to the UK in 1986 at the age of nine, later going on to study electrical and electronic engineering at Nottingham Trent University.

Although he had the potential to become a professional footballer, he decided to follow his dream of training as an RAF pilot.

Having joined the RAF in 2000, he flew Tornado GR4s during the Iraq War as part of 617 "The Dambusters" Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

Flt Lt Cunningham joined the Red Arrows in 2010 and was this year promoted to the important "Red 5" position in the world-famous aerobatics team.

His father Jim, mother Monika and sister Nicolette said in a statement: "Sean was first and foremost a much-loved son and brother who will be dearly missed by all of his family, and his many good friends.

"Since his childhood Sean had dreamed of flying fast jets in the Royal Air Force. Through his hard work and dedication he achieved that dream, and the pinnacle of his career was to fly in the Red Arrows.

"Sean loved his flying and we hope that his life will be an inspiration to all those who share his dreams. His fun-loving nature has never failed to put a smile on the faces of those who knew and loved him. This is how he will be remembered."

Faults with ejector system of Red Arrows jet could have caused Coventry pilot's death

Two faults with the ejector system of a Red Arrows jet could have caused a Coventry pilot’s death, a coroner revealed.

Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, 35, died after his ejector seat went off while he was on the ground at the RAF display team’s base. He was shot 200ft into the air and fatally injured when his parachute failed to open.

Coroner Stuart Fisher told a pre-inquest hearing he will examine whether an overtightened “shackle nut” disabled the chute. He will look at whether manufacturer Martin Baker Ltd alerted the MOD to any problems with the equipment.

There will also be an investigation into whether the “firing handle” of the seat could have been activated accidentally.

The hearing was told the team’s heavy workload could have affected the way the Hawk T1 was serviced. The number of flying hours pilots perform each year has since been reduced from 3,000 to 2,600.

Mr Fisher said: “There have been suggestions that the number of displays the team are required to perform has got to the point where it put pressure on the team.”

A video filmed by member of a group visiting RAF Scampton, Lincs, at the time of the tragedy in 2011 will form key evidence at the inquest in Lincoln next year.

Flt Lt Cunningham died just three months after colleague Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, who was from Southam, was killed in a crash in Dorset.

Flt Lt Cunningham was born in South Africa and moved to Coventry from Johannesburg at the age of nine. After joining the RAF he completed tours in Iraq before he was selected for the Red Arrows in September 2010.

He went to Ernesford Grange School. Hundreds turned out at Coventry Cathedral to say their final farewell to the 35-year-old who grew up in the Ernesford Grange area.

Impressionist Jon Culshaw and TV presenter Carol Vorderman were among those at the service.

Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham inquest: Seat mechanism 'useless'


Flt Lt Sean Cunningham's father said his son's death was "preventable"

A coroner has described part of an ejection seat that threw a Red Arrows pilot to his death as "entirely useless".

Flt Lt Sean Cunningham was killed at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, after being accidentally ejected from his Hawk T1.

The inquest has heard that he was ejected because of a problem with the ejection seat firing handle.

The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion following the three-week inquest.

The 35-year-old pilot, who was born in South Africa and grew up in Coventry, died on 8 November 2011.

The inquest has heard that the ejection seat firing handle had been left in an unsafe position which meant it could accidentally activate the seat.

Testing of the Mk.10 Martin-Baker seat showed that the safety pin could be inserted even when the seat was in this unsafe position, giving the impression the seat was safe.

Coroner Stuart Fisher said the safety pin mechanism was "entirely useless".

Seven RAF personnel had 19 opportunities to check the ejection seat firing handle, but did not notice it was in the unsafe position.

Mr Fisher said the "repeated failure to notice this" could only be due to the check "not being done at all or not done sufficiently carefully by each individual".

Flt Lt Cunningham's parachute should have saved his life, but the main chute failed to deploy because a nut and bolt had been fastened too tightly, the inquest heard.

Mr Fisher said none of the engineers who worked on the parachute mechanism can be criticised.

Martin-Baker knew the parachute mechanism could jam if the nut and bolt were too tight as early as January 1990, the inquest was told.

The manufacturer warned some air forces but did not warn the MoD.

Mr Fisher said: "There was a very serious failure of communication by Martin-Baker in my view.

"It is unexplained by the evidence. It seems there is no logic to warn and inform some but not others."

Lincolnshire Police conducted a criminal investigation into the death, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) considered manslaughter charges against the Ministry of Defence, Martin-Baker and three unnamed individuals.

The CPS concluded that no manslaughter charges should be brought, due to "insufficient evidence".

However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) could still prosecute Martin-Baker and/or the MoD, and will consider whether to do so now the inquest has concluded.

Flt Lt Cunningham's parents agreed an undisclosed settlement with the MoD in December, after the MoD admitted liability for the incident.

Martin-Baker issued a statement extending "sincere condolences" to Flt Lt Cunningham's family and friends.

"On this occasion, uniquely in the entire history of Martin-Baker ejection seats using this particular feature, it [the parachute] failed due to a shackle bolt being too tight.

"In light of this incident, lessons have been learned and we have taken steps to alert all our customers worldwide who still use this type of seat, of the risk of over tightening the shackle."

Flt Lt Cunningham took Night Nurse medication the night before the accident, but Mr Fisher was satisfied this did not impair his abilities.

Speaking after the inquest, his father Jim Cunningham said: "We welcome the conclusion of the coroner which confirmed what we knew all along, which is that Sean was blameless and his tragic death was preventable,

"We therefore welcome the coroner's recommendations which we hope and pray will ensure no family such as ours has to endure such a pointless and avoidable death."

Ejector seat firm to be prosecuted



An ejector seat firm will be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the death of a Red Arrows pilot in 2011.

Flt Lt Sean Cunningham was injured after being ejected from a Hawk T1 jet while on the ground at RAF Scampton.

The parachute on the ejector seat did not deploy and the South African-born airman later died in hospital.

The HSE will prosecute Martin Baker Aircraft Ltd for an alleged breach of health and safety law.

Inspector David Butter said: "We have conducted a thorough investigation and consider there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to bring a prosecution."

Martin Baker Aircraft Company Ltd, of Lower Road, Higher Denham, near Uxbridge, is to appear at Lincoln Magistrates' Court, at a date to be confirmed, to face a section three charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The alleged breach is Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."

HSE investigated the incident following a Ministry of Defence inquiry, investigations by the civilian and military police, and technical investigations involving the Military Aviation Authority and the Military Air Accident Investigation Branch.

Red Arrow's pilot's death caused by faulty ejector seat, as firm pleads guilty

A RED Arrows pilot from Coventry died because of a faulty ejector seat, its manufacturer has admitted.

Uxbridge-based Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd has now pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court to breaching health and safety laws.

Martin-Baker had been aware for years that the parachute mechanism might jam, the inquest heard.

Coroner Stuart Fisher also said the seats’ safety mechanism was “entirely useless”.

Manslaughter charges had been ruled out due to insufficient evidence, but the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted.

The firm is due to be sentenced on 12 February.

Ejector seat firm fined £1.1million over death of Coventry Red Arrows pilot

One of the world’s leading ejector seat manufacturers has been fined £1.1million after a breach of health and safety law led to the death of a Red Arrows pilot from Coventry.

Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham was fatally injured after being ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while conducting pre-flight checks on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, in 2011.

The parachute on the Mark 10B ejector seat did not deploy and the South African-born airman fell 200ft before he later died in hospital.

Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Ltd admitted failing to ensure the safety of non-employees in connection with the 35-year-old’s death at a hearing on January 22.

At Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, the firm was handed a £1.1million fine and had already agreed to pay £550,000 in prosecution costs.

Sentencing the Middlesex-based company, the Honourable Mrs Justice Carr said: “A significant number of pilots, and also potential passengers, were exposed to the risk of harm over a lengthy period.

“Here the risk of harm was of the highest level - death.

“Martin-Baker Aircraft Company fell short of the appropriate standard.”

She added: “This was, in the words of his father, an entirely preventable tragedy.”