Two Royal Air Force pilots have been injured after ejecting from a training aircraft moments before it slammed into the ground near Anglesey in north Wales. The incident occurred on Wednesday during a routine training exercise, with bystander footage capturing the dramatic sequence of events as the stricken jet fell from the sky and erupted into a fireball close to residential homes.
What Happened Near Anglesey
Video filmed by a local witness shows the RAF T2 Hawk aircraft appearing to stall before both pilots ejected and the plane plummeted to earth, igniting a large fireball on impact. The crash site was located within eyeshot of nearby homes, though authorities say there are currently no reports of damage to property or injuries to anyone on the ground.
The RAF confirmed the aircraft had been flying out of RAF Valley, an airbase situated approximately 9 kilometres southwest of where the jet came down. North Wales Police confirmed both pilots involved in the incident are receiving treatment for what are understood to be minor injuries. The RAF also stated that the pilots' families are being supported as investigations get underway.
RAF Suspends Hawk Operations Amid Investigation
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the Royal Air Force moved swiftly to ground its entire fleet of Hawk training aircraft. In a statement issued to social media, the RAF confirmed it had "temporarily paused Hawk T1 and T2 operations as a precautionary measure" while investigations into the cause of the incident remain ongoing.
The decision to stand down both variants of the Hawk reflects standard procedure following military aviation incidents, allowing investigators to assess whether any systemic issue with the aircraft type may have contributed to the crash. Military aviation accidents, while relatively rare, have occurred periodically over the decades — for historical context, see this list of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (2010–2019).
Authorities have emphasised that despite the dramatic footage and the proximity of the crash to homes, the situation on the ground was contained quickly. No further casualties or structural damage have been reported. The RAF has not yet indicated a timeline for when Hawk operations may resume, with the focus firmly on understanding what caused the aircraft to go down.
Investigations are continuing, and further updates from the RAF and North Wales Police are expected as the inquiry progresses.
