Two trainee RAF pilots ejected from a Hawk jet and escaped with minor injuries before the aircraft crashed in Wales this morning.
The Hawk T2 plummeted to the ground moments after taking off, with witnesses reporting a ‘big bang’ and flames coming from the jet.
Both crew members, understood to be trainees, ejected safely using parachutes.
They were located shortly afterwards and are currently being treated for minor injuries, North Wales Police said.
Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, and heard ‘a big bang’ before it came down near the village of Rhosneigr.
Footage shared online shows what appears to be the wreck of the aircraft engulfed in a fireball and a huge plum of smoke billowing into the air.
A separate video posted to Facebook shows a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter landing in a field close to the incident.
Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones published a picture on the social media site appearing to show two ejected crew members with parachutes floating to the ground.
‘Hope everyone is ok,’ he wrote. ‘Rhosneigr, big bang, jet on fire out of control and two parachutes??’
The Hawk T2 training aircraft crashed moments after taking off, with both pilots ejecting safely (pictured)
Footage shared online shows what appears to be the wreck of the aircraft engulfed in a fireball and a huge plum of smoke billowing into the air
Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, and heard ‘a big bang’ before it came down near the village of Rhosneigr
The pilots were located shortly after the crash and are being treated for minor injuries
One eyewitness said they had watched the jet take off and told his wife ‘it’s in trouble as I could see flames’.
He wrote: ‘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.’
A source told The Telegraph: ‘We’re aware of an incident involving a Hawk jet. We believe the crew was not seriously injured and ejected… we believe this happened within the last hour.’
North Wales Police has warned people to avoid the area ‘until further notice’.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Local officers are currently in attendance to reports of an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed.
‘Two pilots are being treated for what are thought to be minor injuries and at this stage there are no reports of any wider damage or injuries.’
‘Please avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be issued when appropriate.’
A Royal Air Force spokesperson said: ‘An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is underway and we will not comment further at this time.’
RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF’s No 4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain’s next generation of fighter pilots.
The Hawk T2 is built by BAE Systems and have been used to train British pilots since 1976.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.

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