INCREDIBLE photos show a Red Arrows plane flying with a shattered screen – after it was hit by a bird during an air show.
The jet was forced to cut short a show at Rhyl in Wales on Sunday a few minutes early due to the smashed cockpit canopy.
Thousands of spectators watching below saw the dramatic moment and eyewitnesses reported hearing a “loud pop” at the collision.
The plane, Red 6, peeled away from the display team and headed back to Hawarden under an ”emergency 7700 squawk transponder code” – meaning an emergency.
The Red Arrows used Hawarden Airport as a base for their Rhyl Air Show displays this weekend.
Those on the ground waiting for the Red Arrows to return saw the jet land safely at Hawarden but with a shattered canopy just above the pilot’s head.
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David Montenegro, Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team said: “Steve (Ogston) the pilot of Red 6 is a bit shaken but well.
“His immediate actions delivered calmly and correctly with the support of his colleagues ensured a safe outcome.”
The seven red Hawk T1 jets left Hawarden at 4.30pm for their second performance of the weekend at Rhyl airshow.
The team were due to arrive back at Hawarden at 5.10pm but just after 4.45pm Red 6 squawked the emergency 7700 transponder code due to the bird crash.
That triggered a response from the onsite fire service at Hawarden Airport who were on hand as the jet landed.
A spokesman for the team said: “Thank you to everyone at this weekend’s Rhyl Airshow.
”We had to finish today’s Red Arrows display a few minutes early after one of our jets suffered a bird strike, damaging the cockpit canopy.”
“This type of incident is not uncommon in aviation and is extremely well-trained for. In this instance, Red 6 and the whole team responded perfectly together, with no further risk to the pilot and aircraft.”
“Happy to report the jet landed safely and the pilot is unhurt. Thank you for all of the well-wishes and many messages of support, asking about the pilot.”
