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| Red Arrows death: Ejection seat firm fined £1.1m | Red Arrows death: Ejection seat firm fined £1.1m |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An ejection seat manufacturer prosecuted over the death of a Red Arrows pilot thrown from his jet has been fined £1.1m. | An ejection seat manufacturer prosecuted over the death of a Red Arrows pilot thrown from his jet has been fined £1.1m. |
| Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, 35, was ejected while conducting pre-flight safety checks at RAF Scampton in 2011. | Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, 35, was ejected while conducting pre-flight safety checks at RAF Scampton in 2011. |
| The parachute on the seat did not then deploy and the airman was fatally injured. | The parachute on the seat did not then deploy and the airman was fatally injured. |
| Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd previously admitted to breaching safety laws at Lincoln Crown Court. | Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd previously admitted to breaching safety laws at Lincoln Crown Court. |
| Sentencing the company, Mrs Justice Carr said it was "an entirely preventable tragedy". | Sentencing the company, Mrs Justice Carr said it was "an entirely preventable tragedy". |
| "A significant number of pilots, and also potential passengers, were exposed to the risk of harm over a lengthy period," she added. | "A significant number of pilots, and also potential passengers, were exposed to the risk of harm over a lengthy period," she added. |
| "Here the risk of harm was of the highest level - death." | "Here the risk of harm was of the highest level - death." |
| Reading a victim impact statement on behalf of Flt Lt Cunningham's family, the judge said: "Sean's two biggest fears in life were being ejected from an aircraft and the injuries that would be sustained, and dying at a young age. | |
| "He was to tragically experience both of these. | "He was to tragically experience both of these. |
| "He was the perfect son and brother and the pride in him from the family is justifiably immense." | "He was the perfect son and brother and the pride in him from the family is justifiably immense." |
| At a previous hearing, prosecutor Rex Tedd QC said there was a risk "to many pilots over a lengthy period". | At a previous hearing, prosecutor Rex Tedd QC said there was a risk "to many pilots over a lengthy period". |
| "If the pilot was ejected from the Hawk aircraft, two shackles would not release from one another and would jam together and the main parachute would not deploy," he added. | "If the pilot was ejected from the Hawk aircraft, two shackles would not release from one another and would jam together and the main parachute would not deploy," he added. |
| "The pilot would be several hundred feet in the air and there could only be one result of that, and that is the pilot's death." | "The pilot would be several hundred feet in the air and there could only be one result of that, and that is the pilot's death." |
| The court previously heard an assessment by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was that such an incident would happen only once in more than 100 years. | The court previously heard an assessment by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was that such an incident would happen only once in more than 100 years. |
| It was also told the firm had a "good system" in place and it "just failed in this instance". | It was also told the firm had a "good system" in place and it "just failed in this instance". |
| However, the judge said the company fell short of the appropriate standard. | However, the judge said the company fell short of the appropriate standard. |
| In a statement issued by Flt Lt Cunningham's sister Nicolette Cunningham, the family said: "Sean's death was not an accident. It was a preventable death waiting to happen and we don't believe it was an isolated incident." | |
| The family said the fine issued to Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd was "a tiny percentage of its profits". | |
| "No amount of money will bring our son back or relieve our pain," Ms Cunningham added. | |
| "Lastly, I would like to address the MoD and RAF. I have one question for you. Where are you? Not one of you is here to represent my son or my family. | |
| "Sean was so proud to be a member of the armed forces and to serve his country. He was the perfect ambassador for your organisation. He gave you his all and ultimately gave his life." | |
| Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd had already agreed to pay £550,000 in prosecution costs. | Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd had already agreed to pay £550,000 in prosecution costs. |
| In a statement, the company, which is based in Denham, Buckinghamshire, said: "Our thoughts remain foremost with the family and friends of Ft Lt Sean Cunningham, to whom the company conveys its sadness, regret and apology." | |
| The firm admitted the health and safety breach on the basis it had failed to provide a written warning to the RAF about over-tightening a bolt on the aircraft. | The firm admitted the health and safety breach on the basis it had failed to provide a written warning to the RAF about over-tightening a bolt on the aircraft. |
| It added its ejection seats were in use by 92 air forces and had saved more than 7,000 lives. | It added its ejection seats were in use by 92 air forces and had saved more than 7,000 lives. |
| Timeline of events: | Timeline of events: |