Pilot Ejects 'With Seconds Left'

The pilot of a Royal Air Force Harrier GR9 is being credited with avoiding homes and businesses when his stricken bird went down Thursday afternoon while en route to this weekend's Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire.

BBC News reports the pilot of the jet was unhurt, although he ejected from the Harrier "about two or three seconds before the aircraft hit the ground," said Gp Captain Shaun Bell from RAF Cottesmore, where the aircraft was based.

"[The pilot] was probably under the parachute for no more than a couple of seconds as well," Bell added, "and I think he hit the ground pretty hard as a result of that."

The plane impacted near a local pub in Tackley, according to media reports, forcing the closure of roads in the area but causing few injuries on the ground. A passing car -- driven by a local police officer -- spun out of control from the force of the accident.

Investigators were on scene Friday to determine what caused the Harrier to go down. The accident occured within miles of Oxford Airport.

The GR9 is an upgraded variant of the venerable Harrier, and sports weapons and avionics improvements to the VTOL design.

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk/rafcottesmore/