Red Arrows cancel air show display at last minute

A number of red planes are lined up on a concrete runway. There are several men in blue overalls checking over the planesImage source, RAF
Image caption,

The Red Arrows display was supposed to be one of the highlights of the weekend show

  • Published

A display by the Red Arrows at a major air show was cancelled on Sunday afternoon, due to what the RAF described as "operational factors" at a US air base.

About 32,000 people attended Duxford Air Show near Cambridge and the RAF aerobatics team was expected to close the event.

However, it posted on Facebook, external that afternoon, saying: "Unfortunately, due to operational factors beyond the team's control at our base for this afternoon - RAF Mildenhall - we've had to cancel the planned show at Duxford."

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) said it was not unusual for aircraft to have to withdraw, "sometimes at short notice".

The BBC has asked the US base for comment.

A man dressed in blue overalls is placing air crew kit on the wing of a red plane. It is a sunny day and he is wearing dark glasses and has short, dark hair.Image source, RAF
Image caption,

Earlier on Sunday afternoon the RAF had posted photos showing maintenance crews preparing the aircraft for the show at Duxford

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