AN RAF pilot has been suspended from flying at air shows following an undisclosed “incident”, the Ministry of Defence said last night.

Flight Lieutenant Tom Saunders, who grew up in Bladon, has been withdrawn from his role as the solo display pilot for the Hawk jet and is currently under investigation.

A spokesman for the Hawk display team said Flt Lt Saunders’ elaborate aerobatic displays had been replaced by a simpler “role demonstration”, made up of manoeuvres the aircraft routinely carries out, for performances this year.

Flt Lt Saunders obtained his private pilot’s licence at the age of 17 and worked at Kidlington as a civilian flying instructor before joining the RAF in 2004.

In May, he was part of a display team who performed at the Abingdon Air and Country Show.

Flt Lt Saunders is currently an instructor at RAF Valley in north Wales where he teaches future fast-jet pilots.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman added: “The incident is being investigated and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”