Air festival audience pay tribute to Red Arrows pilot killed after show

HUNDREDS of people have signed books of condolence in tribute to a Red Arrows pilot killed after his plane crashed following a display.

Bournemouth Air Festival broadcast a silent one-minute montage video of the aerobatic team as a mark of respect for Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, from Rutland, who plunged to the ground near the town’s airport on Saturday.

His Hawk T1 aircraft crashed at 1:50pm, ending up partly in the River Stour.

Dorset Police said the 33-year-old, who was thrown from the plane, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A third book of condolence has been opened at the town hall for public tributes due to high demand.

Bournemouth Council said that in two hours yesterday morning, more than 250 people had signed the first two books. A fourth has been made available for pilots participating in the air show.

Councillor Chris Rochester, mayor of Bournemouth, told of his “immense sympathy” for the pilot’s family.

“In particular I send my heartfelt condolences to his wife Emma, following this dreadful accident,” he said.

“Every account I have heard of Flt Lt Egging describes him as a man of extreme bravery, integrity and honour, held in the highest regard by all those who knew him.”

Tributes from the public were laid at various sites near the crash scene and at the Red Arrows’ base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

An eyewitness described the moment rescuers searching for the pilot found him dead in the river.

He was discovered with his parachute open but apparently not in his ejection seat.

John Dugdale did not hear the crash, but was soon at the scene when a rescue helicopter starting hovering above.

“Somebody ran past me saying: ‘One of the reds has gone down.’ I just thought: ‘This is not happening,’” Mr Dugdale said.

“I ran over and there was a small group of people and you could see part of the wreckage of the aircraft on the river bank.

“At least one of the group had entered the water and was looking in the river for the pilot. One then shouted out he could see a parachute and then he shouted out he had got him [the pilot] and someone said, ‘is he dead?’ and the man in the water replied ‘yes’.

“There was a lot of bushes on the bank and he was found just away from me in a bend of the river. I did not see him.”

Mr Dugdale added: “I had gone down to watch the display because I am a member of the Red Arrows Association and a fan. It was such a shame that his wife was at the display.”

Ian Blakeman, from Southampton, who was with his son Dylan, nine, saw the final moments of the jet. He said: “The Red Arrows had come over to do their final flyover and one of them veered to the left and vanished. Then the sirens started. My son is a big fan of the Red Arrows and is very upset.”

Flowers were also laid close to the crash site in Throop, as police maintained a cordon while investigations continue into the cause of the incident.

One card summed up the relief of residents that the plane came down away from them.

It read: “A brave pilot who missed our houses. May you rest in peace. Our hearts go out to your family.”