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An RAF jet was deliberately directed away from populated areas before its two pilots ejected, an RAF official has confirmed. Group Captain Gez Currie, the Station Commander at RAF Valley, explained that the aircraft was steered towards what the pilot believed to be an open field to minimize risk to people on the ground. The incident involved a Hawk T2 jet, which went down near the village of Pencarnisiog on the island of Anglesey.
The aircraft was operating from RAF Valley on Anglesey when it crashed on Wednesday. Both the trainee pilot and the experienced instructor managed to bail out safely just moments before impact. They sustained minor injuries and have been receiving medical care, with Group Captain Currie stating they are now recovering with their families. While details about the individuals involved remain confidential, the investigation into the cause of the crash is still in its early stages.
In response to the accident, the RAF has temporarily halted all operations involving Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 aircraft as a precaution. This pause affects not only training flights but also the Red Arrows, the RAF’s renowned aerobatics display team, who use the Hawk T1. Notably, the team was not scheduled to fly until an airshow in France later in the week. Group Captain Currie emphasized that in his 30 years working in air traffic control and over two years commanding RAF Valley, this incident is unprecedented.
Footage circulating on social media captured the dramatic moment the pilots ejected as the jet spiraled downward, engulfed in flames upon crash. The plume of smoke could be seen rising near residential areas, but the aircraft appeared to narrowly avoid hitting any homes. The RAF stated both pilots are in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery while the formal inquiry into the circumstances continues
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