RAF Jet Crashes Near Welsh Caravan Park, Pilots Eject Safely

A Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawk T2 training jet crashed in a field near Rhosneigr, Anglesey, Wales, on Wednesday morning, moments after departing from RAF Valley. Both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft and were treated for minor injuries.

The incident occurred on land owned by 88-year-old Richard Owen at Afallon Caravan Park. Owen described hearing a loud bang followed by a second explosion as the jet descended. Debris from the aircraft scattered across his property, with parts landing near holiday caravans. "There were little bits of wreckage all around the site. The tail section must have blown off and landed next to one of the caravans," Owen told reporters. He added that while the caravans were mostly unaffected, some were impacted by smoke.

Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the aircraft shortly after takeoff. The jet appeared to pitch violently in the air before the pilots ejected. "We watched it climb then as it was parallel with us, it started to pitch up violently twice... then both pilots ejected and the Hawk crashed about a mile away," one witness stated. Another described seeing "an orange flame" on takeoff that disappeared as the jet gained altitude, but noted it was "clearly in trouble."

Footage captured the moment the two pilots parachuted to safety. Emergency services, including North Wales Police, fire services, and ambulance crews, responded quickly to the scene. The fire from the crash site was reported to be under control by Wednesday afternoon. The area was cordoned off, and the public was advised to avoid it while emergency services worked.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. The Defence Secretary Wes Streeting stated, "An investigation is underway. My thoughts are first and foremost with the pilots. We will provide further updates in due course."

The Hawk T2, built by BAE Systems, is a high-performance, two-seat training jet used by the RAF to prepare pilots for front-line combat aircraft. The fleet was briefly grounded in January 2023 due to concerns after a blade failure during an incident at RAF Valley but resumed operations the following month.

Aviation security expert Julian Bray suggested that the simultaneous ejection of both pilots indicated a serious issue with the aircraft. He noted that while the cause was undetermined, possibilities could include engine failure, a bird strike, or a mechanical malfunction.

RAF Valley is a key training base for the RAF, responsible for training new fighter pilots. Prince William previously served at RAF Valley as a search-and-rescue pilot.