Coroner told of Arrows pilot’s tragic death

A RED Arrows pilot died of multiple injuries after a fall from height following ejection from an aircraft, an inquest has heard.

Flight Lieutenant Sean James Cunningham, 35, was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1 while on the ground at the Red Arrows base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire on November 8, the coroner at Lincoln Registration Office heard yesterday.

Flt Lt Cunningham had completed ground safety checks when the ejector seat of his Hawk jet was deployed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the main parachute did not deploy and he did not become separated from his seat during the incident, the hearing was told, and landed on the ground still strapped into his seat.

An ambulance was called and Flt Lt Cunningham was taken to Lincoln County Hospital where he was confirmed dead in A&E at 12.14pm.

A full investigation into how the ejector seat deployed is being carried out and further tests are being done, the inquest heard.

A post-mortem examination was carried out and the cause of death was given as multiple injuries due to a fall from height following ejection from an aircraft.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Det Supt Shaun West, from Lincolnshire Police, told the inquest they were investigating the incident, with experts, seeking to answer two critical questions – why the ejector seat activated and why the parachute mechanism did not do what it was reasonably expected to.

Coroner Stuart Fisher adjourned the inquest to a later date and warned it could be “months” before it is reopened.

Related topics: