Ejector Seat Manufacturer In Court Over Red Arrows Pilot's Death

An ejector seat manufacturer has appeared in court charged with breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act over the death of a Red Arrows pilot.

The charge relates to the death of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, in 2011.

Martin Baker Aircraft Company Ltd, of Lower Road, Higher Denham, near Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire, made no indication of plea at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.

The case will be next heard at Lincoln Crown Court in February.

Members of Flt Lt Cunningham's family were in attendance at court during the brief hearing.

The experienced pilot and Iraq war veteran died after his ejector seat initiated during the pre-flight checks of his Hawk XX177 jet while on the ground and stationary at the Lincolnshire airbase, the Health and Safety Executive said.

The serviceman was thrown 300ft into the air before plunging to the ground at the RAF aerobatics team's base.

Flt Lt Cunningham qualified for his private pilot's license at the age of just 17, before going on to join the Red Arrows.

He had previously spoken to a local paper about his enthusiasm for the job, saying:

"Being on the Red Arrows team has been my dream job and something I have wanted to do since I can remember. I remember seeing them on the telly and thinking I want to be able to do that."

Martin Baker provides ejection seats for 93 air forces worldwide, with the 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 the company’s ejection seats.

MORE: Ejector Seat Manufacturer To Be Prosecuted Over Pilot Death