Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
2 PILOTS EJECT AS NAVY JET CRASHES
Inquiry after crew cheat death
TWO ROYAL Navy pilots cheated death yesterday by ejecting from their stricken jet moments before it crashed into a field.
The training plane is believed to have smashed into the ground during a war games exercise in which the crew were “attacking” an enemy ship.
Both pilots survived the emergency, landing safely by parachute and were airlifted to hospital for treatment.
The Hawk T1 jet had left RNAS Culdrose, in Cornwall, before sending out an emergency distress signal nine miles away in St Martins, Helston.
Locals spotted the plane flying low over their homes before it crashed in a nearby field at around 9.40am.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Two pilots are being checked by medics after ejecting from a Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron. An investigation will begin in due course.”
Locals said there was a huge “crack” sound when the pilots ejected from the twin-seat jet before it crashed.
A woman who called 999 added: “I saw the plane flying low over our house, I heard a clunking sound. It flew on over fields and there was a loud crack and we saw two pilots ejecting. I watched as their parachutes opened. I then saw the plane bank left over the top of a hill before hearing a very loud bang. There was no fire.”
Resident Vanessa Glossop said the crash sounded like “a huge piece of machinery going over a cattle grid”. She added: “Then police cars, fire engines and coastguard came tearing past the house and I knew something bad had happened.”
Cornwall Air Ambulance said: “The patients did not sustain life-threatening injuries.” Ejection seat manufacturer Martin-baker said it was the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years.
Defence chiefs last night halted flying of the Hawk T1 jet pending results of its probe.
An MOD spokesman said: “The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 operations while investigations are ongoing.”