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Red Arrow Aircraft Crashes Near Bournemouth

Red Arrows

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 20/08/11 15:25 Updated: 20/10/11 11:12

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An RAF pilot has died after the Red Arrow aerobatics plane he was flying crashed near Bournemouth airport.

The Ministry of Defence said that Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging of the RAF Aerobatics Team was killed when his Hawk T1 aircraft crashed around 1 km away from the airport at 13:50 PM on Saturday.

The pilot, who was taking part in a display at the annual Bournemouth Air Festival, died after the plane crashed near a river close to the village of Throop.

There were unconfirmed reports that the pilot had attempted to steer his plane away from a nearby residential area before the plane crashed.

Bournemouth International Airport was briefly closed following the accident, but was operating normally by the end of the day.

Dorset Police said they had turned over responsibility for the investigation into the crash to the military.

The Red Arrows were formed in 1965 and have carried out more than 4,000 displays.

In March 2010 two Red Arrows collided in mid air during training. One pilot managed to land safely, but another was forced to eject from his aircraft and suffered a dislocated shoulder.

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An RAF pilot has died after the Red Arrow aerobatics plane he was flying crashed near Bournemouth airport. The Ministry of Defence said that Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging of the RAF Aerobatics Team ...
An RAF pilot has died after the Red Arrow aerobatics plane he was flying crashed near Bournemouth airport. The Ministry of Defence said that Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging of the RAF Aerobatics Team ...
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thatsitfortheotherwon
If you plant ice, you're gonna harvest wind.
2845 Fans
08:11 on 21/08/2011
After all the possible risk is mitigated, flying remains an inherently dangerous business.

RIP Red 4.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Marchmont
74 Fans
21:02 on 20/08/2011
The Red Arrows is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force soon to be based at RAF Waddington. There are nine display pilots who must have completed one or more operational tours on a fast jet such as a Tornado, accumulated at least 1,500 flying hours and been assessed as outstanding. Pilots stay with the Red Arrows for a three-year tour of duty with three pilots changed every year. There are no reserve pilots, as a spare pilot would not perform often enough to fly to the standard required. If one of the pilots is not able to fly, the team flies an eight-plane formation. However, if the Team Leader, 'Red 1', is unable to fly then the team does not display at all. The RAF's advanced jet trainer, the BAE Hawk T1A, is used because operating front-line aircraft would be too expensive. Sadly Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging who was killed was Red Four i.e. in his last months on tour.
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RangerQual
Veritas
32 Fans
20:09 on 20/08/2011
God Bless Lt Egging and his family. Rest in Peace Red Arrow.
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etcapela
13 Fans
19:34 on 20/08/2011
oh what a terrible shame. I feel very sorry for his family.
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Tim Darch
24 Fans
 
18:52 on 20/08/2011
MOD "it appears that the aircraft was heading towards the civilian built up area at Throop; the pilot appears to have chosen to remain with the aircraft to prevent it hitting civilian housing" "First and only fatality since squadron formed in 1964"
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Tim Darch
24 Fans
 
18:44 on 20/08/2011
Official Sources (MOD) have now confirmed pilot died at scene
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Tim Darch
24 Fans
 
18:36 on 20/08/2011
Quasi official sources now confirming that pilot died. (Will be publicly confirmed in about 30 minutes) Our thoughts go to his family.

Per ardua
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TheLibraryOfCodex
1111 Fans
18:13 on 20/08/2011
Always loved the Red Arrows.
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mysto99
33 Fans
17:56 on 20/08/2011
I do remember air-shows in the past where air-stunt shows caused wrecks into those on the ground watching ....Even when the low flying close to the ground dives is being done a good way from the audience, it can go wrong and go into the crowd causing injury and death.
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Tim Darch
24 Fans
 
18:19 on 20/08/2011
I can also remember airshows where this has happened but thankfully not in the UK in many many years

Without checking the official records I beleive the last death to a member of the public at a UK airshow was in 1996 (it may have been 1994). After which the CAA tightened all the rules for UK Airshows, to prevent accidents to the public, for example there are not allowed to fly towards or obliquely along the flight line, they are only allowed to fly parallel to the flight line. (Unless it has changed the UK is the ONLY country to enforce it!) The aircraft must not fly closer then 500m, etc.

All UK Airshows have CAA official on site, if these rules are not followed to the letter, the show can be stopped there and then! In the UK that HAS happened.
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mac2jr
The truth always wins out
1466 Fans
17:18 on 20/08/2011
Trust that the pilot and all others escaped injury, and will live a long and fruitful life.
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Tim Darch
24 Fans
 
17:38 on 20/08/2011
Like yourself I really do hope he has escaped, but I have a horrible foreboding that he hasn't. The crash occurred just north of a built up civilian area, and begin a highly respected RAF pilot he may have chosen to stay in the aircraft to get it away from the built up area, hoping to eject at the very last minute.

From other sources (photos, eyewitness accounts, videos) no one has reported seeing an eject or parachute.

Either way I Salute him.

Per ardua
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jpclarksville
81 Fans
20:02 on 20/08/2011
Did you miss this part of the article: "The pilot, who was taking part in a display at the annual Bournemouth Air Festival, died after the plane crashed near a river close to the village of Throop." ****Please note the word DIED. That would mean the pilot will not be living a long and fruitful life.
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FrontRunner
70 Fans
16:48 on 20/08/2011
I've seen them perform back in the early 80s. They put on a fine show with considerably aggressive flying (at least back then).
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bcstractor
Mech Eng
121 Fans
15:54 on 20/08/2011
Since when is a Red Arrows jet a "stunt" plane. Do you call the Thunderbirds pilots "stunt pilots".

They are an AEROBATICS team.

Ughh.
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Tim Darch
24 Fans
 
17:32 on 20/08/2011
Suggest the Jorno who wrote this looks up Hawk T1 Aircraft, and then amend to title so as not to disrespect the British Military, who do not fly stung aircraft!
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