A TOWN has paid tribute to a Red Arrows pilot killed after his plane crashed following a display.
Bournemouth Air Festival broadcast a silent one-minute montage video of the aerobatic team as a mark of respect for Flight Lieut Jon Egging, from Rutland, who plunged to the ground near the town’s airport on Saturday.
His Hawk T1 aircraft crashed at 1.50pm, partly ending up in the river Stour.
Dorset Police said the 33 year old was thrown from the plane, and pronounced dead at the scene.
A third book of condolence has been opened at the town hall for public tributes, due to high demand.
Councillor Chris Rochester, mayor of Bournemouth, told of his “immense sympathy” for the pilot’s family.
He said: “In particular, I send my heartfelt condolences to his wife Emma, following this dreadful accident.
“Every account I have heard of Flight Lieut Egging describes him as a man of extreme bravery, integrity and honour, held in the highest regard by all those who knew him.”
Tributes from the public were laid at various sites near the crash scene and at the Red Arrows’ base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
An eyewitness yesterday described the moment rescuers searching for the pilot found him dead in the river. He was discovered with his parachute open but apparently not in his ejection seat.
John Dugdale did not hear the crash but was soon at the scene.
“Somebody ran past me saying ‘one of the reds has gone down’. I just thought this is not happening,” Mr Dugdale said.
“I ran over and there was a small group of people and you could see part of the wreckage of the aircraft on the riverbank.
“At least one of the group had entered the water and was looking in the river for the pilot.
“One then shouted out he could see a parachute and then he shouted out he had got him and someone said, ‘is he dead?’ and the man in the water replied ‘yes’.
A ministry of defence spokesman said: “A full service inquiry into the details of the crash has been initiated. It would be inappropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident at this time.” – (PA)
- A stunt pilot was killed in a crash during an Kansas air show in the US yesterday after his plane appeared unable to get out of a downward spiral and plummeted nose-first into the ground, witnesses and authorities said. Event officials identified the pilot as Bryan Jensen. He had been flying aerobatics for 15 years, worked for a major airline and had more than 23,000 hours of flight time.