Worth a cut & paste for the record
MB Website 30th Jan '14
RED ARROWS INCIDENT ON 8TH NOVEMBER 2011
On 8 November 2011, Flt Lt Sean Cunningham died when he inadvertently ejected from an RAF Hawk T1, the seat pan firing handle having been mistakenly left in an unsafe position.
We would like to extend our sincere condolences to Flt Lt Cunningham’s family and friends. Martin-Baker is a family owned company producing vital equipment for people doing a dangerous and important job. We take our responsibilities to these individuals very seriously and we are all deeply saddened by this terrible accident.
The ejection seat is qualified to save a life on a ground level ejection (zero-zero). On this occasion, uniquely in the entire history of Martin-Baker ejection seats using this particular feature, it failed due to a shackle bolt being too tight. This prevented the main parachute from deploying.
We supplied the seat to Hawker Siddeley (now part of BAE Systems) in 1976. Since then, for the last 35 years, the seat has been used and operated by the RAF.
In light of this incident, lessons have been learned and we have taken steps to alert all our customers worldwide who still use this type of seat, of the risk of over tightening the shackle. Furthermore, our designers, working closely with military experts have developed a new type of shackle bolt and firing handle housing, which both Martin-Baker and the military authorities consider will prevent the reoccurrence of the circumstances that led to this tragic accident.
Martin-Baker is proud to be able to say that, since 1946, it has led the world in the design development and manufacture of ejection seats. As of today's date these seats have saved 7436 lives, seven in this month alone.