Both pilots who ejected from an RAF Hawk T2 training jet before it crashed in a fireball near Anglesey are believed to have steered the stricken aircraft away from built-up areas, it has emerged.
The £16million jet plunged to the ground shortly after taking off from RAF Valley in Wales on Wednesday afternoon. Both crew members ejected before the aircraft came down in the Pencarnisiog area, with dramatic footage appearing to show the jet narrowly missing residential properties.
Pilots directed aircraft towards open ground
Group Captain Gez Currie, Station Commander at RAF Valley, said the aircraft would have been directed towards open ground to avoid people and buildings. He said: "The aircraft would have been aimed in a direction that the pilot believed was open field, in order to avoid built-up areas and anybody on the ground."
Footage shared on social media shows the aircraft pitching up and down before its canopy opens and the two crew members eject. Smoke can then be seen pouring from the rear before the jet plunges towards the ground and erupts into a huge fireball.
Pilots expected to make full recovery
The RAF confirmed on Thursday that the two pilots had been treated for minor injuries and are expected to make a full recovery. In an update, it said: "Both pilots are doing well, they are in extremely good spirits, and are expected to make a full recovery."
"A formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is now underway and, as a precautionary measure, the RAF has temporarily paused Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 flying operations."
Witness describes wreckage scattered across field
Richard Owen, 88, a farmer and owner of Afallon Caravan Park near Rhosneigr, Anglesey, described the moment he heard the crash and saw the wreckage scattered across his field. Mr Owen was in the kitchen at the time, and said at first he "didn't think much about it".
He told the MailOnline: "We are on the flight path and there are planes overhead every day. We’re just a couple of miles from the runway. But then I heard a second bang and I saw the fire and flames. It landed just on the other side of the park. I went out to take a look. There were little bits of wreckage all around the site. The tail section must have blown off and landed next to one of the caravans. There was lots of smoke, thick black smoke. I didn’t dare to go too close. I was worried about it exploding."
Witnesses also reported hearing an "enormous bang" and seeing a "huge wall of fire". An air ambulance, fire crews and a coastguard helicopter were scrambled to the scene, while police said there were no reports of further injuries or wider damage.
Hawk T1 and T2 flights have been temporarily paused while the crash is investigated, a move which also affects the Red Arrows. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Rich Knighton has said he wants a replacement for the Hawk "as soon as possible".
