RAF Hawk T2 training jet crashes near Anglesey after pilots eject
A Royal Air Force Hawk T2 training jet has crashed near Pencarnisiog on Anglesey after both pilots ejected moments before impact. The aircraft had been operating from RAF Valley, which is used for basic and advanced fast-jet training. The jet burst into flames after hitting the ground, according to the available account of the incident.
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The RAF said training on the Hawk jets had been temporarily paused as a precautionary measure while an investigation is carried out. North Wales Police said the two pilots, who had been flying a training aircraft, were being treated for minor injuries. The crash happened after the aircraft departed RAF Valley and came down near Pencarnisiog, with the sequence of events captured in footage reviewed by observers.
RAF Valley is a key training base for fast-jet pilots and is linked to low-flying exercises in the surrounding area. The base sits within a wider military training environment that includes low-flying areas across the United Kingdom. The Hawk T2 is a two-seat advanced training aircraft used for RAF fast-jet instruction and is designed with controls similar to those of the Typhoon fighter jet.
The incident matters because RAF Valley is central to the pipeline that prepares pilots for front-line service. Any pause in Hawk training can affect the pace of advanced instruction, even if only temporarily. The aircraft type is also part of a broader training system that supports both operational readiness and specialist flying skills.
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The Hawk T2 is used for advanced jet training, while the older Hawk T1 is also in RAF service. The area around Anglesey is known for low-level flying and is close to the Machynlleth Loop, a valley system used by military aircraft and watched by aviation enthusiasts. That geography has long made the region important for training, but it also means incidents there draw immediate attention.
An investigation is now under way, and it is not yet known when the pause on Hawk training will be lifted. The cause of the crash has not been established in the available material, and no wider damage has been reported. The next developments are likely to focus on the inquiry, the condition of the pilots, and whether the temporary restriction on training remains in place.
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