RAF Jet Crashed Without Fuel Cap, Investigation Claims

An Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawk T2 jet that crashed and exploded near a caravan park in north Wales was reportedly flying without its fuel cap, according to claims. The incident occurred last month shortly after the jet took off from RAF Valley.

Two pilots ejected from the aircraft before it plummeted nose-first into the ground, scattering debris across the field of Afallon Caravan Park near Rhosneigr, Anglesey. The £20 million jet was reportedly on its first test flight after undergoing repairs.

The missing fuel cap is understood to be a significant element of the ongoing investigation into the crash by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch. A source told The Sun that while internal valves would have prevented fuel from spilling outwards, the absence of a cap indicates poor standards that could suggest wider issues. "One of the first things the crash investigators established was a fuel cap was missing," the source stated.

Another source expressed concern, saying, "Safety is everything in aviation. This plane should never have taken off without its fuel cap. You have to pray it’s a one-off. But if a fuel cap can be left off, what else can be?"

The missing cap is believed to have been part of a gravity-fed inlet, separate from the main high-pressure fuel entrance. It is not yet known if the missing fuel cap directly caused the accident.

Witnesses reported seeing the jet trailing flames on the runway before the crash. The two pilots, understood to be training at the No4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley, sustained minor injuries upon ejection.

Gp Captain Gez Currie, Station Commander, stated that the pilot would have directed the aircraft towards open ground to avoid populated areas. "The aircraft would have been aimed in a direction that the pilot believed was open field, in order to avoid built-up areas and anybody on the ground," he said.

The entire Hawk fleet was grounded following the incident but has since resumed operations. RAF Valley is responsible for training the RAF's next generation of fighter pilots. Prince William previously served at RAF Valley as a search-and-rescue pilot.

Local farmer Richard Owen, owner of Afallon Caravan Park, described the close call. He heard an initial bang, which he initially dismissed due to frequent aircraft noise, followed by a second, louder bang and the sight of flames. The wreckage landed just beyond the park, with parts of the tail section near a caravan. He noted thick black smoke and expressed concern about further explosions.

Owen was relieved that most of his 30 caravans were unoccupied and that the vehicles themselves sustained minimal damage.

The Hawk T2, manufactured by BAE Systems, has been used for pilot training since 2009. The RAF describes it as a "high-performance, two-seat training jet" designed to simulate front-line combat aircraft like the Typhoon and prepare pilots for complex tactical environments.

The Hawk fleet was also briefly grounded in January 2023 due to concerns about a blade failure during an incident on the runway at RAF Valley, resuming operations the following month.

An RAF spokesman confirmed that the Defence Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the crash, which occurred on September 23, 2026, and declined further comment while the investigation is ongoing.