An RAF Harrier jet was forced to make an unscheduled landing at the Shoreham Airshow yesterday after it hit a bird.
The plane was travelling at 2,000ft when it struck the bird.
It had performed a display for the crowds and was on its way to another show in Belgium.
Pilot Squadron Leader Rowly Sharman said: "We were only about 15 miles from Shoreham.
"When you hit a bird you have to land as soon as you can because there may be damage you are not aware of.
"It made a hell of a mess on the windscreen."
Preliminary checks did not reveal any major damage.
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