A Red Arrows air show was dramatically halted when the cockpit of a £5 million jet was smashed in a bird strike.
One of the jets, called Red 6, was forced to break off from the rest of the team as its glass cockpit was shattered.
Eyewitnesses heard a “loud pop” before Red 6 broke off from the rest off the formation. Gregor Ogston, its pilot, gave an “emergency 7700 squawk transponder code” to signal an emergency.
It happened in front of thousands as the air display team provided the star attraction of Rhyl Air Show in North Wales. Red 6’s team-mates were left over the seaside town until they received permission to return to Hawarden Airport.
The bird strike hit a section of the cockpit just inches from the pilot. It shattered the glass pane, leaving the cockpit with a gaping hole. One witness said: “That pilot is lucky to be alive. Anything could have happened in that moment.”
The pilot was said to have been “a bit shaken” following the incident. In response to the RAF Red Arrows social media post, David Montenegro, the officer commanding the team, praised the pilot’s actions, saying they were “delivered calmly and correctly with the support of his colleagues [and] ensured a safe outcome.”
The seven red Hawk T1 jets left Hawarden at 4.30pm on Sunday for their second performance of the weekend at Rhyl airshow.
The team had been due to arrive back at 5.10pm, but Red 6 squawked the emergency 7700 transponder code at just after 4.45pm. That triggered a response from the onsite fire service at Hawarden, who were on hand as the jet landed.
Red 6 was followed to the airport by another member of the team to ensure a safe route home and landing. The other pilots were given a round of applause by bystanders as they disembarked.
An RAF spokesman said: “The Red Arrows finished their display at the Rhyl Air show a few minutes early after one of their jets suffered a bird strike, damaging the cockpit canopy.
“Such incidents are not uncommon in aviation, and pilots are extremely well trained for them. The immediate action of the pilot and his colleagues ensured the aircraft and pilot landed safely.”
It is understood the Red Arrows’ programme will be unaffected, with displays scheduled to take place at the Bournemouth Air Festival from Thursday.
