This is the shocking moment a bird collided with a Red Arrows jet during an air show, causing the aircraft's cockpit canopy to smash mid-display. The world-famous RAF aerobatic team were forced to cut short their performance at the Rhyl Air Show 2022 on Sunday, August 29, after the incident which happened in front of hundreds of concerned onlookers.
The group were bringing the air show to a close with a trademark display when the jet strike occurred, North Wales Live reports. After the cockpit was smashed by the collision, the pilot of Red 6, Steve Ogston, was forced to break away from his formation, accompanied by another jet to ensure a safe landing back at Hawarden Airport near Chester.
Hundreds of people were watching the display back on the ground, with eyewitnesses reporting hearing a "loud pop" as the jet collided with the bird. Get the latest news from across Wales sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletters.
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Photos taken during the collision show debris from both the canopy and feathers from the bird falling through the sky from the jet. Pilot Steve Ogston was later praised by David Montenegro, the officer commanding the Royal Air Force Aerobatic team, who said his immediate actions were "delivered calmly and correctly", ensuring the safety of the rest of the team, reports North Wales Live.
The pilot of the red Hawk T1 jet managed to safely fly it back to Hawarden airfield, located at Airbus Broughton, where they were based over the weekend for their two day display at Rhyl Airshow. The pilot was thankfully unharmed.
Following the bird strike, a spokesman for the RAF Red Arrows team said: “Thank you to everyone at this weekend’s Rhyl Airshow. We had to finish the Red Arrows display a few minutes early after one of our jets suffered a bird strike, damaging the cockpit canopy. This type of incident is not uncommon in aviation and is extremely well-trained for.
"In this instance, Red 6 and the whole team responded perfectly together, with no further risk to the pilot and aircraft. Happy to report the jet landed safely and the pilot is unhurt. Thank you for all of the well-wishes and many messages of support, asking about the pilot.”
All pilots were given a hero's welcome back at base, with bystanders giving them a round of applause as they disembarked following their slightly early return. The jet, which costs around £5 million, is expected to remain at Hawarden where it will undergo an 'intensive inspection' and repair works before rejoining the team at their RAF Scampton base in Lincolnshire.
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