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Red Arrows pilot saw Jon Egging's fatal crash Red Arrows' Jon Egging 'may have passed out' before crash
(about 1 hour later)
A Red Arrows pilot has described the moment he saw his team mate's jet plough into fields in Dorset. A Red Arrows pilot may have partially lost consciousness before his plane crashed, an inquest has heard.
Jon Egging, 33, from Rutland, was killed when his Hawk T1 crashed following the Bournemouth Air Festival in August last year. Jon Egging, 33, of Rutland, died when his Hawk T1 jet crashed at the Bournemouth Air Festival, in August last year.
Flt Lt Chris Lyndon-Smith told Bournemouth Coroner's Court that he called to Flt Lt Egging over the radio as he witnessed him losing height. Wing Cdr Mark Rodden, who led the RAF inquiry, said "A-loc" - near loss of consciousness due to G force - was the likely cause of the crash.
He said he did not think his colleague reacted until the last moment. Black box data showed Flt Lt Egging reacted 3.5 seconds before impact.
Flt Lt Lyndon-Smith described his friend as cheerful and meticulous and said the manoeuvre they carried out, involving banking to 85 degrees then gaining height to about 500m, was one they used regularly. Earlier, the pilot's team-mate Flt Lt Chris Lyndon-Smith told Bournemouth Coroner's Court he called to Flt Lt Egging over the radio when he witnessed him losing height.
He described his friend as cheerful and meticulous and said the manoeuvre they carried out, involving banking to 85 degrees then gaining height to about 500m, was one they performed regularly.
'Check height''Check height'
The court was shown a simulation which showed Flt Lt Egging completing the first part of the move then losing height before crashing at a shallow angle. The court was shown a simulation created using data gathered from the planes flying that day. It showed Flt Lt Egging completing the first part of the move then losing height before crashing at a shallow angle.
Flt Lt Lyndon-Smith said he shouted "4 check height" to his colleague, whose call sign was Red 4. Flt Lt Lyndon-Smith said he shouted "4, check height" to his colleague, whose call sign was Red 4.
When asked if he saw a reaction, he said: "It's difficult to tell, but from what I saw, I don't think I saw one, and the video appears to show the same, although there may have been a tiny reaction right at the end."When asked if he saw a reaction, he said: "It's difficult to tell, but from what I saw, I don't think I saw one, and the video appears to show the same, although there may have been a tiny reaction right at the end."
When asked by the coroner whether Flt Lt Egging's jet looked to be in control, he said: "An aircraft can be out of control but be going in a completely straight line. From what I could see at that time, he was not in control of the aircraft at that time, although there was a slight movement right at the end on the video." He explained to the court pilots wear g-suits, which are designed to help prevent them blacking out during manoeuvres.
The first witness at the inquest was Dr Emma Egging, Flt Lt Egging's wife, who said her husband had been well and in good spirits before the display. When asked by the coroner whether Flt Lt Egging's jet looked to be in control, he said: "An aircraft can be out of control but be going in a completely straight line.
She said she watched the display with the other pilots' wives and with close friends. "From what I could see at that time, he was not in control of the aircraft at that time, although there was a slight movement right at the end on the video."
Dr Egging told the court her husband missed a flight earlier in the summer because of neck and back pain. She said he had received treatment from MoD physios and from a private osteopath. Flt Lt Egging's wife, Dr Emma Egging, who gave evidence first, said her husband had been well and in good spirits before the display, which she watched with the other pilots' wives and close friends.
She said after the missed flight he had taken 10 days' rest. His neck was giving him no trouble on the day, although he had taken ibuprofen for a sore back in the morning. Her husband, she said, had missed a flight earlier in the summer because of neck and back pain and had taken 10 days' rest and received treatment from MoD physios and a private osteopath.
Dr Egging also told the court she and her husband had enjoyed a quiet meal the evening before the air show appearance and had gone for a run together on the morning of his death. His neck was giving him no trouble on the day, although he had taken ibuprofen for a sore back in the morning, she said.
She said she met her husband, who was born in Southam, Warwickshire, while they were both members of the Southampton University Air Squadron. The hearing, which is expected to last two days, is taking place after the Military Aviation Authority completed its independent inquiry into the crash.
The hearing, which has been scheduled to last two days, is taking place after the Military Aviation Authority completed its independent inquiry.
Other witnesses due to give evidence at the inquest include Flt Lt Egging's team-mate Flt Lt Chris Lyndon-Smith and his commanding officer Sqn Ldr Ben Murphy.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.