article_snippet: It reveals that Lieutenant Commander Simon Thomas was flying a Sea Vixen jet when a Sea Vixen jet exploded after crashing into the sea off the Dorset coast.
article_snippet: Sea Vixen was in the vanguard of a new generation of high-speed jets that relied on swept wings and two Rolls-Royce engines to achieve near-supersonic speed.
article_snippet: Zulu’s crew also saw an explosion, which turned out to be Lieut Cmdr Thomas’s aircraft hitting the water and exploding.
article_snippet: Lieutenant Commander Simon Thomas was flying a Sea Vixen jet (pictured) when it exploded after crashing into the sea off the Dorset coast .
article_snippet: All of this was happening while a Sea Vixen jet (pictured) when it exploded after crashing into the sea off the Dorset coast was maintaining a steep bank climb and the pilot was subjected to considerable G-forces.
highlights_snippet: Lieutenant Commander Simon Thomas was flying a jet when a jet exploded .
  