A RESIDENT narrowly escaped injury after an object being towed by an aircraft during a military exercise hit her house next to Cornwall Airport Newquay on Wednesday night.
Sue Rundle, who lives in Tregaswith, was left shocked following the debris believed to be a heavy piece of lead crashed through her roof and completely destroying her bathroom shortly after 5pm.
A second property was also damaged but no injuries have been reported.
A dummy missile landed in a nearby tree whilst many metres of cable were discovered in a neighbour's field.
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Draken, an American provider of tactical fighter aircraft, stated a Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft was towing a target on a cable behind the aircraft when the mechanism malfunctioned.
Nic Anderson from Draken said: "At approximately 4pm on Wednesday 26 March one of our aircraft was carrying out a routine exercise over the sea involving towing a target on a cable behind the aircraft.
"The mechanism to control the target cable malfunctioned.
“The aircraft crew carried out back-up procedures to release the target and cable from the aircraft safely over the sea, which were not successful.
"Realising they were unable to detach the target, the crew contacted Air Traffic Control to declare an emergency and sought to land at the nearest diversion airfield at Cornwall Airport, Newquay.
"During the diversion and on approach to the airport, the cable and target dislodged from the aircraft and landed in a field, regrettably damaging two properties.
“Fortunately, no one was injured.
“Draken is very sorry that this incident has occurred and offer our sincere apologies to those affected by it.
"We have stopped all target towing activity and will not resume until we are satisfied the system is safe to operate."
Police and a fire crew attended the incident.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is leading on the investigation.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Just after 5pm on Wednesday 26 March officers from Devon and Cornwall Police and colleagues from Cornwall Fire and Rescue attended a residential address near Newquay following reports of an item falling from an aircraft causing damage to the property.
“Nobody was injured as a result of this incident.
“An investigation has been opened and is in its early stages. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been made aware.”
A spokesperson for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said: “The AAIB is aware of an incident which occurred in the Newquay area.
“We are making enquiries to understand more about the circumstances.”