Seat firm pleads guilty over Red Arrows death
Company admits ‘failure related to the tightening of a nut’ after pilot is killed when ejected from plane
A RED ARROWS pilot was killed in an ejector seat accident linked to RAF mechanics tightening a nut, an engineering firm has said after admitting breaching health and safety law.
Flt Lt Sean Cunningham was fatally injured after being ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincs, on Nov 8, 2011. The parachute on the Mark 10B ejector seat did not deploy and the South African-born airman died later in hospital.
John Martin, Martin-baker Aircraft Ltd director, pleaded guilty on behalf of the Middlesex-based company on Monday to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in connection with the 35-year-old’s death. Rex Tedd, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court: “The first matter in dispute is the question of design. We say it was defective from the outset.”
Judge Mrs Justice Carr said: “In light of the defendant’s guilty plea, the matter will now proceed to sentencing.”
A date for a future hearing was set for Feb 12 at the same court. In tributes following his death, Flt Lt Cunningham’s family, who attended court on Monday, described a “much-loved son and brother”.
Jim and Monika, his parents, and Nicolette, his sister, said in a statement: “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.”
In a statement released after the guilty plea, Martin-baker said: “Firstly and most importantly we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ft Lt Sean Cunningham. Martin-baker’s priority has and will always be the safety of the aircrew who sit on the company’s seats.
“We appreciate that the Health and Safety Executive, during this process, has acknowledged this dedication and track record of saving lives.”
It said its plea was entered “following detailed and lengthy discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which have considerably narrowed the issues from when its investigation first started”, adding: “It should be noted that this was an isolated failure relating to the tightening of a nut during maintenance procedures conducted by RAF Aerobatic Team mechanics.” In the statement, the firm said it had been designing and manufacturing ejection seats for 73 years “and in that time these ejection seats have been flown by 92 air forces, with over 17,000 seats currently in use.
“Our ejection seats have saved the lives of 1,050 British Royal Air Force and Navy aircrew, with a further 6,009 aircrew lives saved around the world.”
Flt Lt Cunningham died after his ejector seat initiated during pre-flight checks. At an inquest in 2014, the coroner criticised Martin-baker for failing to warn the RAF about safety issues.
A HSE spokesperson said: “HSE acknowledges the defendant’s guilty plea but will not make a further comment until after sentencing.”