A pilot of a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon successfully executed an emergency landing at RAF Coningsby following an unusual incident in which the aircraft lost its canopy mid-flight. Reports suggest the canopy may have been dislodged due to a possible bird strike. Following the incident, the pilot opted to jettison the aircraft’s canopy—a transparent panel that encloses the cockpit—before safely returning to the base for an emergency landing.
The safe landing at RAF Coningsby was carried out without the canopy. The Royal Air Force confirmed that the pilot landed safely and was uninjured. They also stated that the incident was likely caused by a bird strike. Further details are expected to be released later.
Recently, we reported on another incident involving a Eurofighter Typhoon based at RAF Coningsby. Just a few days ago, a Typhoon lost a pylon along with an AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pod during a flight over Yorkshire. The pylon and pod fell into a rural field in England, causing no harm to people or damage to property.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is equipped with a canopy consisting of two sections: a larger, hinged rear section—referred to as the canopy—that lifts to allow pilots to enter and exit the aircraft, and a fixed front section, similar to a windshield, that is attached to the airframe. The rear canopy section is designed to be jettisoned in emergencies, a feature typically activated during ejection. When the ejection handle is pulled, the canopy is released within 0.3 seconds, and the ejection seat follows 0.15 seconds later. Some other aircraft in the Royal Air Force fleet utilize built-in detonation cords instead, which shatter the canopy before ejection, providing an alternative method for emergency escape.
While fighter jet canopies are designed to withstand bird strikes and their durability is thoroughly tested, there is no absolute guarantee against potential damage. This is especially true when an aircraft is traveling at very high speeds or if the bird involved in the collision is a larger species.
In this case, beyond the possibility of significant damage to the canopy itself, there was concern that the impact could have compromised the ejection mechanism, potentially hindering its operation. Fortunately, the fixed windshield section provided some protection for the pilot, helping to mitigate the effects of strong, cold airflows during the emergency situation. This scenario brings to mind a 2017 incident involving U.S. Air Force Major Brett DeVries, who was piloting an A-10 Thunderbolt II that lost its canopy mid-flight. He later described how the force of the airflow pinned his head against the headrest “as if he had been punched.”
The BBC also reported on a similar incident involving an F-35B. On January 20, the aircraft collided with a bird while flying over North Wales. The impact caused damage to the aircraft’s front section, which an Air Force spokesperson described as likely “minor.” The F-35 landed safely, and the pilot was unharmed.
Source: theaviationist
