Red Arrows pilot dies in air crash NEWS
A Red Arrow Pilot has died today when his Hawk T1 aircraft - Red 4 crashed at Bournemouth Air Festival in Dorset.
Organisers from the Bournemouth Air Festival are in shock today after an RAF Red Arrow pilot died during a display at the Festival in Dorset.
The 33 year old pilot named as Flt Lt Jon Egging from Rutland was killed when his Hawk T1 aircraft -Red 4, crashed during the display near to the Airport south east of Bournemouth at 13.50 BST.
Shocked eyewitness have described seeing the plane perform an arc which failed to recover. The jet then seemed to be guided away from the nearby village of Throop and people walking along the riverbank, before crashing and splitting into two pieces.
The Pilot is thought to have tried to eject whilst flying the Red Arrow over a field.
The aircraft is reported to have suffered a failure following a display with nine other Red Arrows that had also taken part in the festival earlier over the seafront.
After the crash an on looker saw two young men strip off and dive into the river and drag the pilot out of the water.
The Commandant of the RAF's Central Flying School Group Captain Simon Blake, paid tribute to the pilot. He said, 'Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, known as 'Eggman', joined the team as Red 4 in the Autumn of 2010.' He added,' A gifted aviator, he was chosen to fly the Red 4 slot, on the right hand outside of the famous Diamond Nine formation - an accolade in itself being the most demanding position allocated to a first year pilot. A true team player, his good nature and constant smile will be sorely missed by all.'
His wife, Dr Emma Egging released a statement describing her husband as 'an exemplary pilot' and watching him during the display was the 'proudest' she had ever been.
'Jon was everything to those that knew him, and he was the best friend and husband I could ever had wished for,' she added.
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