Snowbird jets grounded by ejection-seat glitch

Canada's aerobatic flying team the Snowbirds has been grounded indefinitely because of a problem with their ejection-seat systems, the Department of National Defence said Sunday.

In announcing the move, officials said they were implementing an "operational pause."

The move comes after the problem was found on Friday before a practice for an air show in Bagotville, Que.

All 25 of the military's Tutor jets have been grounded as a result.

The planes have been flying since 1963 and have performed in air shows since 1971.

Seven Snowbird pilots have died in flight since 1972, the latest being Capt. Bryan Mitchell, who was killed, along with military photographer Sgt. Charles Senecal, in October 2008 when their jet crashed in a farmer's field near 15 Wing Moose Jaw, an airbase in southwest Saskatchewan.

In May 2007, Capt. Shawn McCaughey died when his seat belt malfunctioned while flying upside down at a Montana air show.

The decision to ground the planes could mean they will not perform a flypast over the Parliament Buildings on Canada Day — making it only the second cancellation for the team in more than two decades.

The Snowbirds didn't perform in 1998 due to poor weather.

Supporters argue the team is an icon of the Canadian Forces, while critics say the $10-million budget could be better spent within the military.