Red Arrows Grounded After Pilot Jon Egging Killed

[dan-b]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14605914

The RAF's Red Arrows display team has been grounded while investigators try to establish the cause of a crash in Dorset which killed one of its pilots.

Flt Lt Jon Egging, 33, from Rutland, died when his Hawk T1 aircraft crashed near Bournemouth Airport after a display on Saturday afternoon.

Witnesses described seeing his plane hit the ground in a field by the River Stour near the village of Throop.

Books of condolence are to be opened in Bournemouth later for public tributes.

Dorset Police said Flt Lt Egging, known as 'Eggman', was thrown from the aircraft and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Flt Lt Egging flew on the right hand outside of the Diamond Nine formation
Shortly before the crash, his wife, Dr Emma Egging, had watched him take part in a display at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

She said later: "Watching him today, I was the proudest I've ever been. I loved everything about him, and he will be missed."

Gp Capt Simon Blake, the commandant of the RAF Central Flying School, said the Ministry of Defence had begun an investigation into the cause of the crash and all Red Arrows Hawk T1 aircraft, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, had been grounded as a standard safety measure.

He said: "At this juncture it is too early to speculate as to the cause of the accident.

"In accordance with normal policy the Ministry of Defence has appointed a service inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and... have grounded the Hawk T1 temporarily until its safety can be assured.

"As for the rest of the season it is too early to speculate as to when the Red Arrows will be back on the public circuit but suffice to say for the short term they will not be able to perform in public."

'Heard a crack'

The crash site was cordoned off by police soon after the incident and only people living inside the zone were being allowed access.

The Military Air Accident Investigation Branch has started an inquiry.

Flt Lt Egging's aircraft was one of nine Red Arrows planes to take part in the display over the seafront.

The plane plunged into a field near the River Stour
The RAF said he joined the team in the autumn of 2010 and flew on the right hand outside of the famous Diamond Nine formation.

Nicholas Gore, 22, was walking with a friend close to the river when he saw all nine Red Arrows overhead.

"There were quite a few people watching and we saw them go over but one seemed quite low," he said.

"They then disappeared behind trees and I heard a crack, not an explosion, just a crack and we got further down and I saw the plane with its red tail in the air and its nose in the river."

Another witness, who did not want to be named, said the plane had skidded for several hundred metres along the riverbank after it crashed.

Messages for family

Bournemouth Borough Council leader Peter Charon said he had arranged for the authority to open two books of condolence on Sunday "for people to express their sympathy and record memories".

"The mayor of Bournemouth and myself will be opening these books... at Bournemouth Town Hall, recording our sympathies on behalf of the town and the council respectively," he said.

Continue reading the main story Red Arrows Hawk T1 AircraftTwo-seater, single-engined advanced training aircraftLength: 38ft 11in (11.8m)Wingspan: 30ft 10in (9.5m)Thrust: 5,200lbsMax altitude: 48,000 ft (14,630 m)Max speed: 638 mph (1,025 km/h) in level flight and 915 mph (1,472 km/h) in a diveThe Red Arrows are based at RAF Scampton in LincolnshireManufacturer: Hawker Siddeley/BAE Systems (United Kingdom) Used by the Red Arrows since 1979
He said the books would be opened at 10:00 BST and people could sign them up until 20:00 on Sunday. They will also be available for signing throughout the week.

The council said it would hand the books to Flt Lt Egging's family, along with any donations given by members of the public for the family's chosen charity.

In a statement, the borough council asked anyone wishing to leave floral tributes to place them on the grass banks around the Town Hall.

Bournemouth Air Festival organisers said the event would go ahead on Sunday, with other RAF displays among the attractions.

All nine Red Arrows display pilots are fast jet pilots from frontline Royal Air Force squadrons.

Flt Lt Egging joined the RAF in 2000 and served with IV(AC) Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9 in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The Red Arrows have used the dual control BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft since 1979.

I very briefly meet him with other members of the public, about 1pm yesterday on Bournemouth Pier along with the rest of the Red Arrows crew....they were there to appear at a function for some dignitaries at a bar come restaurant at the end of the pier.....how sad.


They displayed at 3.30pm....brilliant performance with a few new show-stoppers this year.

Hope you don't mind me adding this ITN news clip dan.


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[dan-b]

Of course not! The more information the better.

[gatagato]

How sad Here the news firstly reported that the pilot was safe after managing to eject successfully.
There's this short footage showing the plane loosing altitude, then disappearing behid some building (@ about sec. 13)

[Faline]

[Lee]

Theres always that risk

Luckily the annual air show here has yet to have such an incident since it started in 1988

[gatagato]

Originally Posted by Lee

Luckily the annual air show here has yet to have such an incident since it started in 1988

That's good
I'll attend a Frecce tricolori airshow on August 23:
I don't want to jinx it, but I'll carry my cameras, just in case...

[kellyhound]

damn

[gatagato]

Tribute paid to Jon Egging on final day of Air Festival

THOUSANDS of spectators at the Bournemouth Air Festival fell silent moments before the start of the final day in a mark of respect for Red Four.
At 1pm organisers announced the death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging and paid tribute to Red Four with a short film montage that was played on big screens along the beach.
Hundreds of people, many wearing red in tribute to the fallen Red Arrow, stood up when the announcement came on as silence descended on the packed seafront.
When the film was over there was an involuntarily round of applause from the crowd, many who were still reeling from the tragedy.
In just two hours more than 250 people signed the two books of condolence set up in memory of the pilot.
Mayor of Bournemouth Chris Rochester wrote: “My sincerest sympathy goes out to Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging’s family, friends and colleagues.
“The whole town is shocked and devastated by this tragic accident, and, on behalf of the people of Bournemouth, I pay tribute to Flight Lieutenant Egging’s skill and bravery. May he rest in peace.”
Floral tributes were left on the lawns surrounding the Town Hall, with the Mayor of Bournemouth and Councillor Charon both laying flowers this morning.
The Union Jack flag outside the Town Hall was flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.
The Books of Condolence will be passed to Flight Lieutenant Egging’s widow, Emma, and the donations given to the charity of his family’s choice.
Books will remain available for signing at Bournemouth Town Hall from Monday to Friday this week, from 8.30am to 5.15pm.
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/new..._Air_Festival/

Video | Red Arrows suspended as tributes paid to
pilot
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