Martin-Baker ejection seat saves 7,721st life during crash of Pakistani Mirage III
Peter Felstead
UK ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker announced on 28 May 2024 that its products have saved their 7,721st life.
The news follows the loss on 21 May of a Mirage III fighter operated by the Pakistan Air Force, which was on a routine operational training mission from Shorkot Rafiqui Air Base when it crashed near Chak 412 JB Cheemian Wali in Shorkot tehsil, Jhang, 12 km away from the airbase. The pilot of the Mirage successfully ejected using his Martin-Baker PRM6 ejection seat.
So far in 2024 Martin-Baker’s ejection seats have saved the lives of four aircrew, according to the company’s website.
The previous ejection took place on 14 March 2024, when a Turkish Air Force NF-5 registered to the Turkish Stars display team crashed inside the perimeter of Konya Air Base in central Anatolia, south of Ankara. The aircraft was training for aerobatic manoeuvres and crashed into a construction site during a landing attempt. Although one construction worker on the ground was killed, the NF-5 pilot successfully ejected using the aircraft’s Martin-Baker T16J ejection seat.
Prior to that the Indian Air Force announced the first loss of a Tejas Mk 1 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to an air crash on 12 March 2024. The Tejas crashed during an operational training sortie near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, in northern India, with the pilot successfully ejecting using his Martin-Baker IN16G ejection seat.
On 13 February 2024, meanwhile, an Indian Air Force Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainer crashed during a training mission near Kalaikunda Air Base in Bengal. Both aircrew successfully ejected using their Martin-Baker IN10LH ejection seats.