Red Arrows are grounded after Royal Navy Hawk jet crash caused by suspected engine failure as two pilots recover in hospital

MoD has launched investigation and temporarily paused all flying of Hawk T1 jets
Defence Minister Johnny Mercer said engine failure suspected as cause of crash
Two pilots are in a stable condition in hospital after ejecting from jet on Thursday
The two-seater Hawk T1 crashed during training exercise near Helston, CornwallThe Red Arrows have been grounded after a Royal Navy Hawk jet crashed in woodland during a training exercise in a suspected engine failure.
Two pilots are in a stable condition in hospital after crew from the 736 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose at Helston, Cornwall, ejected from the jet on Thursday morning.
The two-seater Hawk T1, which is the same model of jet as used by the Red Arrows, crashed in woodland in the St Martin area near Helston.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has now launched an investigation and temporarily paused all flying of Hawk T1 aircraft, including the Red Arrows.
A member of the RAF seen holding a drone in front of the debris of the Royal Navy crash yesterday near Helston, Cornwall. Two pilots were ejected from the two-seater Hawk T1
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The Red Arrows were seen soaring across the sky on Wednesday afternoon (pictured) as they practiced their aerobatic moves above RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire
Defence Minister Johnny Mercer said engine failure was suspected as the cause of the crash, reported the BBC.
An MoD spokeswoman said in a statement: 'Safety is our paramount concern.
'The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 operations as a precautionary measure, while investigations are ongoing.'
The pilots were found about half a mile from the main crash site having safely ejected.
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A member of the RAF seen holding a drone in front of the debris of the Royal Navy crash yesterday near Helston, Cornwall. Two pilots were ejected from the two-seater Hawk T1
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The Red Arrows were seen soaring across the sky on Wednesday afternoon (pictured) as they practiced their aerobatic moves above RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire
Defence Minister Johnny Mercer said engine failure was suspected as the cause of the crash, reported the BBC.
An MoD spokeswoman said in a statement: 'Safety is our paramount concern.
'The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 operations as a precautionary measure, while investigations are ongoing.'
The pilots were found about half a mile from the main crash site having safely ejected.Devon and Cornwall Police said the crew were treated at the scene after ejecting and were then flown by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
They remain in a stable condition 'without significant injury', police said.
The Red Arrows were seen soaring across the sky on Wednesday afternoon as they practiced their aerobatic moves in their famous 'nine ship' formation above RAF Scampton.
Training for the team was supposed to be taking place in Britain until mid-spring, before moving overseas to a location with more predictable, settled weather.
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The double-seater aircraft is an advanced jet trainer which also plays the role of a light attack fighter jet, and is the same model of jet as used by the Red Arrows (file photo)
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Fire crews were picking up the wreckage which was scattered through woodland yesterday
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A helmet was found nearby, after the two pilots were taken to hospital for treatment. They remain in a stable condition in hospital
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A parachute from one of the pilots could be seen caught in a tree after the incident yesterday
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The jet crashed at around 9.40am on Thursday at a field in the St Martin area of Helston, shortly after taking offThe MoD previously said: 'Two pilots are being checked by medics after ejecting from a Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron during a flight from RNAS Culdrose.
'An investigation will begin in due course. We won't be providing further detail at this time.'
Eyewitness Layla Astley said: 'I saw the plane flying low over our house, I heard a clunking sound, it flew on over our fields and then there was a loud crack and we saw two pilots ejecting.
The high risk job of a Red Arrows pilot
Joining the Red Arrows is the pinnacle of many a pilot's career - but the job also carries high risks.
The fatal crash in March 2018 that killed engineer Corporal Jonathan Bayliss was the first major incident since 2011, when two members died.
Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, 35, was killed at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, after being accidentally ejected from his Hawk T1 while he conducted pre-flight safety checks as his plane was on the ground.
The South-African officer, who grew up in Coventry, was thrown 300ft and his parachute failed to deploy during the incident on November 8, 2011.
Three months earlier, Flt Lt Egging, 33, died after crashing at the Bournemouth Air Festival.
An inquest heard he may have succumbed to G-force impairment before attempting to correct his course in the moments before the impact.
Prior to 2018, there are 15 other reported crashes involving Red Arrows since 1969, which have involved 10 fatalities.
The first death, in 1969, involved a pilot flying into trees while practising.
In the worst tragedy to hit the display team, Flt Lt Euan Perreaux, Flt Lt John Lewis, Flt Lt John Haddock and Flt Lt Colin Armstrong were killed when two Gnat aircraft collided mid-air at RAF Kemble, Gloucestershire, in 1971.
Two more pilots were killed in 1978 and another in 1988. But there were no more fatalities until the 2011 deaths.
'I watched as their parachutes opened. I then saw the plane bank left and over the top of a hill before hearing a very loud bang. There was no smoke or fire and I hear from locals that thankfully no-one was seriously hurt.'
Police warned any members of the public finding debris from the jet that they should not touch it and should instead contact the force.
Chief Inspector Pete Thomas said: 'This continues to be a complex scene which has been managed by emergency services throughout the day.
'My thanks go to those who responded so rapidly this morning and who have worked together effectively to progress the investigation.
'We would ask the public to continue to keep their distance from the area whilst the investigation continues, and enquiries are carried out.'
The investigation will be handed over to the Royal Navy in due course.
Ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker said it was the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years.
The company wrote on Facebook: 'A Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron crashed this morning during a flight from RNAS Culdrose. Both pilots ejected successfully.
'This is the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years with the last being Martin-Baker's 7,000th ejection back in 2003.'
It follows the Government unveiling plans under which a vast slew of fighters, transport aircraft, trainers and helicopters will be phased out over the next few years.
The RAF is to lose 114 manned aircraft under the defence review which was announced earlier this week.
They will be replaced by the next generation of unmanned fighting platforms, including long-range Protector aircraft and 'swarming drones' that work alongside conventional attack aircraft.
The changes were set out in a defence command paper that includes £3billion for new vehicles, long range rocket systems, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities.
Titled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', it sets out how forces will spend more time deployed overseas to support allies and deter hostile powers such as Russia, which was identified in the Integrated Review as the 'most acute threat' to the UK.
It sets out plans to retire the RAF's fleet of 14 Hercules C-130 transport aircraft, 24 Typhoon fighters, the four aircraft of the Royal Flight, 36 Hawk training jets, and seven E-3D Sentry early warning aircraft, plus 20 Puma and nine Chinook helicopters.
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Crash investigators arrived at the scene yesterday to determine what happened to the aircraft
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Emergency services at the scene of the crash where the Navy jet came down on Thrusday
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A Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter in a field adjacent to the crash site on Thursday
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Debris was strewn across the field and adjoining woods in the wake of the crash. Pictured: police at the scene The MoD previously said: 'Two pilots are being checked by medics after ejecting from a Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron during a flight from RNAS Culdrose.
'An investigation will begin in due course. We won't be providing further detail at this time.'
Eyewitness Layla Astley said: 'I saw the plane flying low over our house, I heard a clunking sound, it flew on over our fields and then there was a loud crack and we saw two pilots ejecting.
The high risk job of a Red Arrows pilot
Joining the Red Arrows is the pinnacle of many a pilot's career - but the job also carries high risks.
The fatal crash in March 2018 that killed engineer Corporal Jonathan Bayliss was the first major incident since 2011, when two members died.
Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, 35, was killed at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, after being accidentally ejected from his Hawk T1 while he conducted pre-flight safety checks as his plane was on the ground.
The South-African officer, who grew up in Coventry, was thrown 300ft and his parachute failed to deploy during the incident on November 8, 2011.
Three months earlier, Flt Lt Egging, 33, died after crashing at the Bournemouth Air Festival.
An inquest heard he may have succumbed to G-force impairment before attempting to correct his course in the moments before the impact.
Prior to 2018, there are 15 other reported crashes involving Red Arrows since 1969, which have involved 10 fatalities.
The first death, in 1969, involved a pilot flying into trees while practising.
In the worst tragedy to hit the display team, Flt Lt Euan Perreaux, Flt Lt John Lewis, Flt Lt John Haddock and Flt Lt Colin Armstrong were killed when two Gnat aircraft collided mid-air at RAF Kemble, Gloucestershire, in 1971.
Two more pilots were killed in 1978 and another in 1988. But there were no more fatalities until the 2011 deaths.
'I watched as their parachutes opened. I then saw the plane bank left and over the top of a hill before hearing a very loud bang. There was no smoke or fire and I hear from locals that thankfully no-one was seriously hurt.'
Police warned any members of the public finding debris from the jet that they should not touch it and should instead contact the force.
Chief Inspector Pete Thomas said: 'This continues to be a complex scene which has been managed by emergency services throughout the day.
'My thanks go to those who responded so rapidly this morning and who have worked together effectively to progress the investigation.
'We would ask the public to continue to keep their distance from the area whilst the investigation continues, and enquiries are carried out.'
The investigation will be handed over to the Royal Navy in due course.
Ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker said it was the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years.
The company wrote on Facebook: 'A Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron crashed this morning during a flight from RNAS Culdrose. Both pilots ejected successfully.
'This is the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years with the last being Martin-Baker's 7,000th ejection back in 2003.'
It follows the Government unveiling plans under which a vast slew of fighters, transport aircraft, trainers and helicopters will be phased out over the next few years.
The RAF is to lose 114 manned aircraft under the defence review which was announced earlier this week.
They will be replaced by the next generation of unmanned fighting platforms, including long-range Protector aircraft and 'swarming drones' that work alongside conventional attack aircraft.
The changes were set out in a defence command paper that includes £3billion for new vehicles, long range rocket systems, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities.
Titled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', it sets out how forces will spend more time deployed overseas to support allies and deter hostile powers such as Russia, which was identified in the Integrated Review as the 'most acute threat' to the UK.
It sets out plans to retire the RAF's fleet of 14 Hercules C-130 transport aircraft, 24 Typhoon fighters, the four aircraft of the Royal Flight, 36 Hawk training jets, and seven E-3D Sentry early warning aircraft, plus 20 Puma and nine Chinook helicopters.
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Crash investigators arrived at the scene yesterday to determine what happened to the aircraft
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Emergency services at the scene of the crash where the Navy jet came down on Thrusday
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A Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter in a field adjacent to the crash site on Thursday
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Debris was strewn across the field and adjoining woods in the wake of the crash. Pictured: police at the scene