Red Arrows Pilot Death: Ejector Seat Firm To Go On Trial

An ejector seat manufacturer will go on trial next year charged with breaching health and safety law over the death of a Red Arrows pilot.

The family of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham - who died at RAF Scampton in 2011 - were at court on Wednesday to see Martin Baker Aircraft Company enter a not guilty plea to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

They sat in Lincoln Crown Court and watched as the formal plea was entered by the firm, which is based in Uxbridge, west London.

Flt Lt Cunningham - an experienced pilot and Iraq war veteran - died after his ejector seat initiated during pre-flight checks of his Hawk XX177 jet while stationary on the ground at the Lincolnshire air base.

Judge John Pini QC said the trial will take place at Lincoln Crown Court, starting on January 22.

He was told it is likely to last four to five weeks.

Martin Baker provides ejection seats for 93 air forces worldwide, with products fitted into multiple types of aircraft including the F-35 Lightning II.

The company claimed in 2014 that since the first live ejection test in 1946 a total of 7,450 lives have been saved by its ejection seats.

Cover picture courtesy of Tim Felce.