Flight ban on Red Arrows' Hawks is lifted

The flight suspension came during the Red Arrows' mid-season break

The Red Arrows have been cleared to fly again after a potential ejector seat fault grounded jets used by the team.

The Ministry of Defence suspended Hawk T Mk 1 flights across the country when the problem was detected at Anglesey's RAF Valley at the end of July.

Now individual Hawks deemed safe will be allowed to fly, says the MoD.

The aerobatic team, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, is expected to comment after it receives official confirmation of the decision.

'Displays unaffected'

The temporary flight suspension prompted uncertainty about upcoming displays by the Red Arrows, next due to appear at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on Friday.

No public events have been affected so far as the potential fault came to light during the team's mid-season break.

An MoD spokesman said: "A full engineering investigation has been undertaken into potential faults found on the Martin-Baker Mk10B ejection seats fitted to Hawk T Mk 1 aircraft.

"The temporary flying suspension is now lifted for aircraft that have undergone and passed a technical inspection.

"The Red Arrows display programme will be unaffected."