Prosecutors consider criminal charges over death of Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham

Prosecutors are considering bringing criminal charges over the death of Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham in November 2011.

Flight Lieutenant Cunningham, 35, was thrown 200 feet in the air and then fell to the ground still strapped to the ejector seat of his Hawk T1 plane without his parachute opening.

He was airlifted to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The death at RAF Scampton was the second Red Arrows fatality in just three months after Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging died at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

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A full inquest into Fl Lt Cunningham's death was suspended until police inquiries were complete.

It is thought potential offences could range from flaws in the manufacturing or servicing of the aircraft, up to corporate manslaughter, which would apply to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

At an early inquest hearing, the officer leading the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Shaun West, confirmed he was looking specifically at why the cockpit ejector seat activated and why the parachute mechanism did not work.

A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire police said: "We conducted an investigation into the death of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham and a file has been completed and sent to the CPS. We have gathered facts in relation to the investigation and the decision lies with the CPS as to whether any criminal offences have been revealed."

A CPS spokeswoman added: "We have received a file of evidence from Lincolnshire police in relation to the sad circumstances of Sean Cunningham's death, which we are currently considering."