(VIDEO) RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Makes Emergency Landing After Losing Canopy Mid-Flight

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – A Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon was forced to make an emergency landing after losing its canopy while airborne, according to a statement from the RAF.

The statement detailed that the Eurofighter Typhoon, belonging to XI (F) Squadron based at RAF Coningsby, lost its canopy while flying over the North Sea.

An RAF spokesperson suggested the canopy loss was likely caused by a bird strike.

Despite the incident, the stricken Eurofighter Typhoon successfully landed at an airbase in Lincolnshire, with the pilot unharmed.

Photographer Richard Boettcher, who was at the scene during the aircraft’s landing, recounted hearing on a scanner that the pilot had declared an emergency after losing the canopy.

“The fighter jet without its canopy was escorted back to the base by another aircraft. They flew at low altitude and low speed,” he said.

The canopy of an aircraft is a structural component that covers the cockpit, typically made from transparent materials such as glass or polycarbonate.

It is designed to protect the pilot and cockpit equipment from external elements such as wind, rain, debris, and the pressure of high altitudes.

The design of the canopy also plays a crucial role in providing optimal visibility for the pilot, especially in combat aircraft, where a 360-degree field of view is critical.

The incident comes just a week after the RAF launched an investigation into another Eurofighter Typhoon incident

. On January 17, a “pylon” detached from the aircraft while it was flying over Haisthorpe near Bridlington.

No injuries or property damage were reported in that incident.

Pylons are used by fighter jets to carry weapons such as missiles and bombs or external fuel tanks to extend their range.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA