No charges will be brought in relation to the death of a Red Arrows pilot killed after he was ejected from his cockpit while on the ground, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed.
Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, 35, was fatally injured after being ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, on November 8, 2011. The parachute on the ejector seat did not deploy and the South African-born airman later died in hospital.
Lincolnshire Police handed over a file concerning the Iraq veteran's death, but the CPS said no charges would be brought.
Alison Storey, specialist prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said there was insufficient evidence to establish that any individual or the Ministry of Defence (MoD) breached their duty of care to Flt Lt Cunningham in relation to the servicing of the relevant equipment.
She also said there was insufficient evidence to provide a prospect of con-viction of Martin Baker Ltd in relation to the manu-facture of the parachute.
Ms Storey said she had carefully reviewed all the evidence, and had considered charges against three individuals, as well as the MoD and Martin Baker Ltd, relating to either the manufacture or servicing of relevant equipment.
"To bring a prosecution there has to be sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of proving all of these elements to the high criminal standard; beyond reasonable doubt," she added.
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