Last updated at 09:55 01 May 2008

An RAF pilot crash-landed a £69million fighter jet at 130mph after apparently forgetting to put the wheels down.

The state-of-the-art Eurofighter Typhoon careered down a runway without its landing gear down and experts are now investigating how the accident could have happened.

The pilot and the co-pilot, from 17 Squadron, were on a training exercised in California and miraculously walked away from the high-speed crash unhurt.

The plane, which has a top speed of 1,500mph, was flying in to the China Lake air base.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: "The damage to aircraft is still to fully assessed and as a Board of Inquiry has been convened it would not be appropriate to comment further until investigations are complete.

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Crash-landing: The state-of-the-art Eurofighter Typhoon careered down a runway without its landing gear down

"There's no evidence at present to suggest the airworthiness of the aircraft has been compromised and the aircraft therefore remains safe to fly.

"We are pleased to say that neither the pilot nor anyone else was injured in this incident."

Engineers will examine the plane to see whether it is safe to fly back to Britain or whether it should be returned to the UK on board a carrier.

None of the other 48 Typhoons have been grounded with any landing gear problems.

The Eurofighter has a warning system to alert the pilot if wheels fail to come down.

All the RAF Typhoons are based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire with their primary task the defence of British air space.

Some are due to be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to replace older Tornados and Harriers.

An RAF insider said told The Sun last night: "Everything points to the pilot forgetting to lower the wheels, which does happen from time to time."