Battle of Britain planes forced to miss Trooping the Colour for tragic reason
The RAF said in a statement the historic BBMG aircraft would "regretfully" not be participating in the traditional flypast.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight won't be roaring over during the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday following the tragic death of Royal Air Force pilot Mark Long in a crash last month.
The King's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, is held to mark the monarch's official - but not actual - birthday.
The RAF said in a statement that following the Squadron Leader's tragic death, the historic BBMG aircraft would "regretfully" not be participating in the traditional flypast.
The planes, housed at RAF Coningsby, include Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster bomber.
A Typhoon display jet decked out in D-Day colours will use the BBMF call sign 'MEMORIAL', according to the BBC, and the Red Arrows will also feature.
RAF pays tribute to Spitfire pilot who died in tragic crash
The vintage aircraft are iconic symbols of the Battle of Britain, and were loved by the late Queen Elizabeth.
But though the nostalgic hum of their engines won't feature, a large number of RAF planes will be taking part.
A Typhoon display jet in D-Day colours will use the BBMF call sign 'MEMORIAL', according to the BBC, with the Red Arrows also in a starring role.
Police are investigating the circumstances of Long's horror crash and putting together a file that will be passed on to the coroner, according to the outlet.
The pilot lived in Lincolnshire and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a dog.
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Tributes flooded in for Long, with Prince William and Kate writing on their Kensington Palace X account: "Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby.
"Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot's loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family. W & C."
William was Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby from 2008 to August 2023, when he handed the role over to Kate.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute. Lincolnshire Police said it was a single-occupant aircraft and nobody else was involved.
Trooping the Colour takes place annually in London and is one of the most recognisable ceremonial events in the royal calendar.
It features an impressive display of pomp and pageantry, with thousands of troops parading down the capital’s iconic Mall.
The Royal Family comes out in full force for the occasion, parading in carriages and on horseback before stepping out on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF Flypast.
