Aircraft

Red Arrows finally cross Atlantic after weather left them stranded in Canada

Xenia Zubova

17th August 2026 at 11:39am

The Red Arrows’ Hawk T1s remained at CFB Goose Bay after poor weather halted their return from North America — The Red Arrows' Hawk T1s remained at CFB Goose Bay after poor weather halted their return from North America (Picture: Red Arrows)

RAF engineers carried out scheduled work on the aircraft in Canada while the team waited for suitable flying conditions (Picture: Red Arrows)

The journey resumed with a flight from Goose Bay to Iqaluit, where the Hawks stopped to refuel (Picture: Red Arrows)

The Red Arrows were delayed for more than two weeks by poor weather conditions (Picture: Red Arrows)

The Red Arrows stop at Keflavik in Iceland for a final refuel before crossing to the UK — The Red Arrows stoped at Keflavik in Iceland for a final refuel before crossing to the UK (Picture: Red Arrows)

The Red Arrows landed at RAF Lossiemouth on Sunday after crossing from Iceland (Picture: Red Arrows)

The Red Arrows at RAF Lossiemouth, with one final flight remaining before their return to RAF Waddington (Picture: Red Arrows)

The Red Arrows have returned to UK soil after completing a carefully staged Atlantic crossing delayed for more than two weeks by poor weather.

The RAF Aerobatic Team landed at the Lincolnshire station on Monday, completing a multi-stage journey through Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland.

They had reached UK soil at RAF Lossiemouth on Sunday before making the final flight to their home station.

The Hawks first stopped to refuel at Iqaluit in northern Canada before crossing to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, where the team spent the night inside the Arctic Circle.

They then flew to Keflavik in Iceland – their final refuelling stop before reaching the UK.

The single-engine Hawk T1 cannot refuel in the air and has a limited range, meaning the Atlantic must be crossed in stages with RAF support aircraft accompanying the formation.

Suitable weather is required along every leg because relatively few airfields are available should the jets need to divert.

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The team had been returning from Operation Eagle Hawk, a month-long tour marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Its appearances included the finale of an international flypast over New York on 4 July and displays at airshows in Maryland, New York, Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The return journey began in late July but was halted by persistent poor weather over north-eastern Canada.

One attempt to leave Goose Bay had to be abandoned, with the aircraft turning back to the base.

Scheduled engineering work that had been due to take place after the Hawks arrived home was instead carried out at Goose Bay during the delay.

The revised timetable forced the Red Arrows to withdraw from Airbourne in Eastbourne, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week.

At Lyme Regis, spectators were offered a rather more earthbound substitute when the Red Barrows stepped in with a formation of wheelbarrows.

The Devon-based team occupied the Red Arrows' scheduled slot on Sunday, with a display that was "a little lower" and "a little slower" than the original attraction.

The Red Arrows are expected to resume their 2026 display season following their return to RAF Waddington.