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Cornwall plane crash: Red Arrows grounded after Hawk jet crash

BBC Crash sceneBBC
Wreckage is shown where the jet ploughed into the woodland north of the village of St Martin

The RAF and Royal Navy have paused flying of all Hawk T1 jets - including the Red Arrows - after a Navy jet crashed in Cornwall.

Two pilots ejected from the aircraft, which was from the 736 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.

Defence Minister Johnny Mercer said engine failure was suspected.

The MoD said the pause in operations was a "precautionary measure while investigations were ongoing".

PA Media Red Arrows jetsPA Media
The MoD has paused operations of its T1 jets, including the Red Arrows

Police said they received reports of the two-seater training aircraft crashing in the St Martin area on the Lizard Peninsula on Thursday morning.

The pilots, who were airlifted to hospital, are in a stable condition "without significant injury", police said.

Ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker said it was the first ejection from a Royal Navy aircraft in 18 years.

An MoD spokesperson said: "Safety is our paramount concern. The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 operations as a precautionary measure, while investigations are ongoing."

Earlier this week it was announced the RAF would retire its fleet of 76 T1 jets as part of a defence review.

Hawk aircraft landing at RNAS Culdrose
A Hawk T1 aircraft pictured at RNAS Culdrose Air Day