THE Red Arrows appeared to have another near miss shortly before a bird strike forced an emergency landing on Sunday (August 28).

New pictures show a bird flying perilously close to squadron leader Tom Bould's (Red 1) aircraft as the team took off.

The Red Arrows had used Hawarden Airport in Wales as a base for their Rhyl Air Show displays at the weekend.

Photographer Steve Ebbrell said: "Red 1, the Red Arrows leader, very nearly had a bird strike on take off.

"The bird is large, and looks like a crow, it flew right across their flight path."

Dramatic later pictures show a Red Arrows jet with a shattered windscreen - after it was hit by a bird during the Rhyl show.

The plane, Red 6 piloted by Squadron Leader Gregor Ogston, was forced to cut short the display a few minutes early - after the cockpit canopy was smashed.

The ace flier peeled away from the display team and headed back to Hawarden under an ''emergency 7700 squawk transponder code'' - meaning an emergency.

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Those on the ground waiting for the Red Arrows to return saw the jet land safely at Hawarden but with a shattered canopy just above the pilot’s head.

Bird strike pilot Gregor Ogston said: "Thank you to everyone for the kind messages and good wishes.

“As ever, our well rehearsed emergency procedures, togetherness and training resulted in a safe outcome - true teamwork.

“Looking forward to displaying for you all again very soon."