A RED Arrows pilot sent out an emergency alert this morning after a bird smashed into a jet at 2,300ft.
The Hawk T1 aircraft was flying over the East Midlands at 8.40am when it squawked 7700 above Lincoln.
The special code is used to tell air traffic control facilities in the area that there is an emergency situation.
The Royal Air Force confirmed the plane had to be rescued following the incident but the pilot was unharmed.
A spokesperson told The Mirror: "A Red Arrows Hawk T1 aircraft had a very minor bird strike this morning resulting in a precautionary recovery to RAF Waddington.
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"The aircraft landed safely and the pilot is fine."
Maps from tracking site SkyScanWorld show they were following an unknown route at 280 knots at an altitude of 2,300ft.
