Second Red Arrows Pilot Killed in Accident

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15640104

A pilot from the RAF Red Arrows demonstration team has been killed in an accident at the team's home base, RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire. The pilot, whose identity has been temporarily withheld at his family's request, is the second team member to die this year. The RAF reported that the pilot was ejected from a Hawk T1 jet while it was on the ground at RAF Scampton.

The team finished its 2011 show schedule in September, and was conducting winter training. Training has been suspended at this time. In August, Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging was killed in a crash following a display.

Jesus. This has been a very rough air show year.

RIP sir.

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it was halting all non-essential flights in aircraft fitted with Martin Baker Mk 10 ejection seats used in the Hawk while officials investigate the latest accident. This affects the Tornado attack jet, the Tucano training turboprop and the Hawk. This stand down is expected to last "for days rather than weeks" according to MoD officials. The RAF also identified the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, age 35, who joined the RAF in 2000. He was an Iraqi war veteran, flying the Tornado GR4, and joined the Red Arrows in 2010, the same time as Flt Lt Egging.