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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Pilot ejects from Harrier crash | Pilot ejects from Harrier crash |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A pilot has managed to eject to safety as an RAF jet crashed near an airbase in Rutland. | A pilot has managed to eject to safety as an RAF jet crashed near an airbase in Rutland. |
| A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokeswoman said a Harrier jet crashed north-east of RAF Cottesmore at about 1350 BST. | A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokeswoman said a Harrier jet crashed north-east of RAF Cottesmore at about 1350 BST. |
| She said the pilot ejected and came down using a parachute and was "alive and conscious". He is receiving treatment in hospital. | |
| No civilian casualties were reported. A safety cordon has been put in place around the crash site. | |
| The pilot was taken to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre by air ambulance. Further details of his condition have not been released. | |
| Phil Morris, spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We attended the incident along with the air ambulance. There was one casualty and that was the pilot. | |
| "He was fully conscious and alert but had suspected spinal injuries which would be consistent with being ejected from a plane. | |
| "That is not to say that he definitely had spinal injuries. That's what the hospital will be looking into." | |
| Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was called to the crash near the village of Ashwell and 10 appliances were deployed. | Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was called to the crash near the village of Ashwell and 10 appliances were deployed. |
| The RAF confirmed an internal investigation into the incident would be carried out. | The RAF confirmed an internal investigation into the incident would be carried out. |
| Craig Shepherd, 25, who was carrying out building work about half a mile (800m) from the crash site, said he saw the plane come down. | Craig Shepherd, 25, who was carrying out building work about half a mile (800m) from the crash site, said he saw the plane come down. |
| "They [Harriers] had been flying over about seven or eight times during the day," he said. | "They [Harriers] had been flying over about seven or eight times during the day," he said. |
| "We were working and heard a bang, looked up and saw the guy get out of the plane with a parachute and then just watched the plane come down to the ground and crash into a field. | "We were working and heard a bang, looked up and saw the guy get out of the plane with a parachute and then just watched the plane come down to the ground and crash into a field. |
| "It looked like the rear of the plane was on fire. We went over to the crash site and within about five minutes the fire engines arrived." | "It looked like the rear of the plane was on fire. We went over to the crash site and within about five minutes the fire engines arrived." |
| An MOD spokesman said the pilot's next of kin had been informed. | |
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