RAF pilots injured after ejecting from training aircraft
Eleanor Storey, Press Association
Two RAF pilots are being treated for minor injuries after ejecting from their training aircraft which crashed on Anglesey.
Emergency services were called to the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, near the RAF Valley station, on Wednesday.
The pilots, who had been flying a Hawk T2 aircraft out of the station, are being treated for minor injuries.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “Local officers are currently in attendance to reports of an incident involving an RAF training aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from the Royal Air Force, 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.”
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 under way and we will not comment further at this time.”
One eyewitness told North Wales Live he had watched the aircraft take off before the crash.
He said: “I knew straight away that it was in trouble – right on take-off there was an orange flame and as it accelerated it was basically on fire.
“As it gained altitude the flame disappeared but it was clearly in trouble.
“It climbed at an aggressive pitch… It pitched twice violently in the air and then there were two clear loud bangs.
“The pilots ejected and both parachutes opened.”
MP for Ynys Môn, Llinos Medi said: “I am relieved that both pilots involved in today’s crash near Pencarnisiog were able to eject safely and that no wider injuries have been reported.
“RAF Valley is an important part of life here on Ynys Môn and incidents such as this are felt across our community. My thoughts are with the pilots and all personnel at the station.
“I am in contact with the relevant authorities as the investigation proceeds. I would also urge residents to follow the advice of North Wales Police and avoid the area until further notice so that emergency services and investigators can carry out their work safely.”
RAF Valley, where the Prince of Wales served for three years as a search and rescue pilot, is home to No 4 Flying Training School, which trains pilots to fly fast jets.
The Hawk T2 is described by the RAF as a “high-performance, two-seat training jet” designed to “simulate front-line combat aircraft like the Typhoon”.
It is used in training to prepare pilots for complex tactical environments.
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The two loud bangs was probably the ejection seats.
Yes I am concerned about the safety of the pilots and I wish them both a speedy recovery, however the RAF shouldn’t be flying over Cymru in the first place.
I do hope that a future Independent Cymru follows the example of Eire, Switzerland and Austria and have nothing whatsoever to do with NATO.