Darren Blakeman, who was watching the display, described what he saw: "We watched nine Red Arrows take off, then they did an approach from the south of the runway, they did a little display.
"After that display only eight of the airplanes landed and then there was a big siren went off at the airport, like an emergency sound, and there was a big yellow fire truck parked in the viewing area and then that rushed off with its blue lights going.
"From my scene here I can see a police helicopter and a coastguard helicopter and they're hovering in the air above the site."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are aware of an incident involving one of the Red Arrows and we are investigating."

Not Appropriate!!
 

I totally agree... that anyone making statements about the well being of one our nations much revered raf pilots is NOT appropriate, especially as there is no official statement in the press...

Whilst this is a rumour network, it should be used in a respecful and ethical way, not to spread unfounded gossip, even if it were true... NO congratulations to anyone being first to report on such an event.

This statement should be treated with the contempt it deserves... Totaly ignorant statement and the user should be removed from the forum before he or she says anything else that offends our nations finest.

"Better to remain silent and thought a fool, rather than open ones mouth and confirm it"

Thanks Jeepys - I understand the feeling of wanting to share, but given the audience its sometimes safer not to yet.

Come on guys. THIS is a pro forum and we do not expect wild speculation or, preferably, NONE at all. The forum is well read and some will take it for granted that we all know what we are talking about. That is not the case.

Facts first and foremost please - before any other posts. Thanks.

IF a significant part the airport fire cover is at the crash site then the airport will be below the required fire cover and will therefore be closed for some considerable time

BBC are showing footage. It went down during / after the 'break' to land - looks like they did a pass over the airfiled in V formation then broke to land - the 2nd aircraft to break just went down during the turn. It was still generating smoke which would suggest the engine was still running as I beleive the smoke is generrated using the heat of the engine exhaust - however that doens't show wether the engine was generating decent thrust or not - just that the exaust was hot. However I'm not going to speculate at this point - merely pointing out what is evident from watching the footage
Unfortunately no seat or chute was evident in the footage.
Doesn't look too good i'm afraid.

BBC has just broadcast an audio from an eye witness saying that people did in fact jump into the water to find the cockpit, but there was no statement of what they found as the eyewitnes went further along the debris-field.

Red Arrow Crashes In Bournemouth As Annual Air Festival Takes Place | UK News | Sky News

Some eyewitness accounts and photo.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...53_468x267.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...42_468x286.jpg

Feel free to complain to the daily mail as they were cited by the member as the source for the aircraft number. An unrelated rumour about the condition of the pilot was posted by a member, but without a media source, and is a separate issue. Lets not start mixing the two.

Footage now on BBC website BBC News - Red Arrow crashes during Bournemouth Air Festival

Nevertheless, there are 9 families biting their nails to the quicks at the moment. Common courtesy demands, rumour forum or not, that in these circumstances we lay off speculating until there is an official announcement of the state of the pilot and, later on, the cause(s) of the accident. Sound like a pompous git, I know, but that is my view for what it is worth.

From that BBC footage, would I be right in thinking the loss was immediately after their Break to Land?

My thoughts with RAFAT, their families and friends.

Richard Baker.

Reds crash
 

From the amateur footage on the BBC, the second aircraft to break to the right enters a shallow dive, disappears from view behind buildings and is clearly very low. White smoke is still 'on' and the engine exhaust appears normal. If this footage is indeed that of the aircraft that has gone down, it appears serviceable until the very last second. Any ejection is likely to have been almost coincident with impact. Many of you will recall that the Reds have pulled off miraculous escapes in similar circumstances and fingers crossed for another such escape today. However, neither eyewitness so far interviewed reports the sound or sight of an ejection.

This from the local online rag, "eye witness" claims to have been third on scene.

Red Arrow crashes near Bournemouth Airport after display at Bournemouth Air Festival (From Bournemouth Echo)

True, but the eyewitness may not have necessarily have been able to identify the ejected pilot in the sky, especially if he was low when he ejected. It's difficult to say unless we actually see it take place.

Local news (Calendar here in Yorkshire) reporting fatality, ITN saying condition unknown.

MOD statement to be released sometime in the next hour according to the BBC.

Somewhat speculative BBF .... especially as several reports state that the pilot put out a Mayday call.

Why don't we wait until some facts are KNOWN before the guessing starts ???

Conflicting reports about the pilot in the media storm .... still hoping he's OK ..

I'll wait for MoD. Some faults, but it tends to deal in facts most of the time. ;)

The last I heard from Sky news was "Pilot seriously injured".

Wouldnt worry about that scarmongering sorry excuse for a newspaper the mail.

However from the footage i seen no sign of ejections.

Wait and hope for the best.