The director of a Denham-based ejector seat manufacturer has admitted breaching health and safety law over the death of a Red Arrows pilot.

Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, an experienced flyer and Iraq war veteran, was fatally injured after being ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, on November 8, 2011.

The parachute on the ejector seat did not deploy and the South African-born airman later died in hospital.

John Martin, statutory director of Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd, which has its headquarters in Lower Road, Denham, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company at Lincoln Crown Court today (Monday) to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in connection with the 35-year-old's death.

Flt Lt Cunningham died after his ejector seat initiated during pre-flight checks.

At an inquest into his death in 2014, Central Lincolnshire coroner Stuart Fisher criticised Martin-Baker for failing to warn the RAF about safety issues.

The firm describes itself as the "world's leading manufacturer of ejection and crashworthy seats".

In a statement, Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited said: "Firstly and most importantly we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham.

"Today, Martin-Baker Aircraft Company entered a guilty plea to a single breach of Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

"This plea was entered following detailed and lengthy discussions with the Health and Safety Executive which have considerably narrowed the issues from when its investigation first started.

"It should be noted that this was an isolated failure relating to the tightening of a nut during maintenance procedures conducted by RAF Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) mechanics.

"Martin-Baker Aircraft Company has designed and manufactured ejection seats for 73 years and in that time these ejection seats have been flown by 92 air forces, with over 17,000 seats currently in use.

"Our ejection seats have saved the lives of 1,050 British Royal Air Force and Navy aircrew, with a further 6,009 aircrew lives saved around the world.

"Martin-Baker's priority has and will always be the safety of the aircrew who sit on the Company's seats. We appreciate that the Health and Safety Executive, during this process, has acknowledged this dedication and track record of saving lives.

"A further and more detailed press statement will be released at the conclusion of these proceedings."