Red Arrows inquest: coroner criticises ejector seat manufacturer
‘Failure of communication’ meant RAF was not aware of defects before death of Sean Cunningham, says coroner
A coroner has criticised the manufacturer of an ejector seat for failing to warn the RAF of defects which led to the death of a Red Arrows pilot.
Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, 35, was killed after he was ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton and propelled 70 metres (220ft) in the air on 8 November 2011.
Following a three-week inquest, the Central Lincolnshire coroner Stuart Fisher recorded a narrative verdict.
Fisher said: “There was a very serious failure of communication by Martin Baker [the manufacturer] in my view. It is unexplained by the evidence. It seems there is no logic to warn and inform some but not others.”
More details soon …
