Sleeve Wing,
The article states that the problem occurred at 26,000' and the ejection was at 20,000'. If correct that doesn't really sound like a gear problem.
Slight thread drift, but since you are an ex-Scimitar pilot, you may be able to answer my question. At Farnborough in the early 60s, I remember seeing a buddy-tankering demo, which I think involved Scimitars. Did Scimitars have this capability, either tanker or receiver?
I42