Red Arrows pilot is 'sacked over affair' while another resigns
‘A disaster for the RAF’: Red Arrows lose three pilots including Squadron Leader who ‘confronted a colleague over toxic culture’ and a Flight Lieutenant who was ‘suspended over affair’
- Display team is the pride of the Royal Air Force and the public face of the service
- However, Red 3 Nick Critchell reportedly confronted Red 1 Tom Bould in April
- Critchell, 36, resigned over a ‘toxic culture’ at training in Croatia and Greece
- Flt Lt Will Cambridge was then suspended after allegedly having an affair
A Red Arrows pilot has been sacked after an alleged affair and another has resigned over the team’s ‘toxic culture’.
The display team is the pride of the Royal Air Force – and the public face of the service.
The best pilots in the business perform death-defying stunts, zooming over crowds producing perfect plumes of red, white and blue smoke.
They attend key British events, performing at air shows, festivals and the most prestigious royal celebrations.
However, according to The Sun, Red 3 Squadron Leader Nick Critchell confronted Red 1 Team Leader Tom Bould, 41, in April.
Critchell, 36, reputedly resigned over a ‘toxic culture’ at training in Croatia and Greece, but the RAF said he left ‘for personal reasons to embark on a different career opportunity’.
The Red Arrows performing at the Blackpool airshow as seen from the top of the Blackpool Tower
Red 3 Squadron Leader Nick Critchell (left) reportedly confronted Red 1 Team Leader Tom Bould (right), 41, in April
Flight Lieutenant Will Cambridge was then suspended after allegedly having an affair with a female colleague.
Red 2 Flight Lieutenant Damo Green left for personal reasons in January.
An RAF spokesman said that ‘the moves’ were ‘a result of both personal and professional reasons’ and they would ‘take action wherever wrongdoing is proven’.
MailOnline has contacted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for comment.
A former pilot said: ‘This is a disaster for the RAF. The Red Arrows are their public face and the public love them but they have no idea what is going on behind the scenes.
‘There is something really rotten in this team. It should be the highlight of pilots’ careers to fly for the Red Arrows but they have lost three this year. The hierarchy has to ask itself why?
‘There are good people there who are trying to fix it but it is an unhappy place.’
It comes after it emerged the RAF was investigating the Red Arrows over allegations of drinking.
Sources claim one pilot was sent home from Greece, where the famous aerobatic display team were training at the time.
An insider claimed: ‘There is a huge under-the-table inquiry going on. It’s to do with alcohol and suspected inappropriate behaviour. The head of the RAF is personally involved in the Red Arrows probe.’
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