Red Arrows pilot reassigned after deaths of her two colleagues

Red Arrows at RAF Scampton base Credit: ITV Central

Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Stewart, who's 33, is moving to a ground role after two of her team's pilots were killed in separate incidents in 2011.

Flt Lt Jon Egging, who was from Rutland, died when his plane crashed after an air show near Bournemouth Airport in August.

Three months later, Flt Lt Sean Cunningham was killed after being ejected from his Hawk T1 jet while it was on the ground during training at the display teams base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

LEFT: Flt Lt Jon Egging RIGHT: Flt Lt Sean Cunningham Credit: ITV Central

A source at the Ministry of Defence said Flt Lt Stewart is to be reassigned after the "tragic events" of 2011 had an "adverse effect" on her.

She will be posted to another role in the RAF and will not fly for the forseeable future.

It's understood the move is not the subject of any disciplinary procedure or related to her gender.

A source at the Ministry of Defence said:

The 33-year-old made history in 2009 when she became the first ever female pilot to join the aerobatic display team.

She flew in the position of Red 9, and her departure means there will be just seven jets in the Red Arrows formation instead of the usual nine.

However nine planes will still take part in official fly pasts.

Red Arrows flying in their usual formation of nine jets Credit: ITV Central

The Ministry of Defence said: