Inquest in to the death of Red Arrows pilot finds he had problem with ejector seat handle

An inquest into the death of a Red Arrows pilot heard that a former member of the team was “probably millimetres away” from a similar incident in 2003.

Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, 35, was fatally injured after being ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, on 8 November 2011. Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Stewart said she became aware of a problem concerning the positioning of the ejector seat handle in 2003 when she was an instructor at RAF Valley.

The inquest in Lincoln also heard it is “conceivable” that drowsiness caused by Flt Lt Cunningham’s use of a medicine the night before could have been partly responsible, but this could not be proved.

The hearing continues.