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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tim Hanlon

RAF Red Arrows and Typhoon planes grounded over 'faulty ejector seats'

Red Arrows jets and Typhoon warplanes are only being used for essential flying due to a safety problem with their ejector seats.

They were grounded as checks were carried out into the "technical issue", which it was feared "may affect the safe operation" of the ejector seats, the RAF said.

The Red Arrows was forced to cancel a display at the Farnborough Air Show, but was given the all-clear late on Friday.

An RAF spokesman said: "After further detailed technical investigations, we are pleased to announce that the Red Arrows have been cleared to resume activity immediately.

"Non-essential flying for Typhoon remains paused as a temporary safety precaution.

Red Arrows have had a problem with their ejector seats (AFP)

"This will have no impact on our operational security, with our patrol flight commitments to UK and NATO being met."

It means the Typhoons currently cannot take part in non-operational flights - which would include air displays, training and exercises.

The Red Arrows flying team is set to perform in a display at the Making Waves Festival in Irvine, North Ayrshire, on Saturday.

Last month, Brits saw the famous Red Arrows on June 26 as they made their way to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

And before that the acrobatic air wonders dazzled Brits with their performance in the flypast for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen was captured saying "how incredible" during the Red Arrows flypast over central London on June 2.

Only essential flights have been carried out by Red Arrows and Typhoon planes (AFP)

The monarch, 96, appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony and watched the six-minute display of more than 70 aircraft featuring Apache helicopters, Typhoons and the Red Arrows.

Dozens of aircraft from the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force soared over the royal residence after Trooping the Colour.

Thousands of well-wishers were draped in Union flags, party hats and plastic tiaras as they flocked to central London for the Trooping spectacle.

First to appear in the capital's skies today were the Royal Navy Wildcat, Royal Navy Merlin and British Army Apache helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence said more than 70 aircraft, including aircraft used by the UK Armed Forces on operations around the world, took part.

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