Pilot dies in Red Arrows jet incident

A pilot has died following an incident involving a Red Arrows jet at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The pilot, who has not been named, was taken to Lincoln County Hospital in a "very serious" condition but later died.

MoD said that the member of the RAF Aerobatic Team died from multiple injuries sustained during a training session in which he was ejected from the cockpit while the aircraft was still on the ground.

Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance was called to RAF Scampton around 11am on Tuesday.

Simon Blake, the Commandant of the RAF's Central Flying School, said in a statement that the Military Aviation Authority has begun an investigation into the tragic incident.

He said: "The pilot's next of kin have been informed and they have asked for a period of grace before his name is released. Our thoughts and prayers are with the pilot's family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

The incident comes three months after Lt Jon Egging was killed when a Red Arrows jet crashed during an air festival in Bournemouth.

Lt Egging had been performing in his Red Arrows Hawk T1 aircraft before it plunged to the ground near Bournemouth Airport.

The Red Arrows were temporarily grounded after the incident but resumed flights in September. The crash is still being investigated by the Military Aviation Authority.

The last fatal incident at RAF Scampton occurred in 1988 during an air show crash.