Two Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots are being treated for minor injuries after ejecting from their training aircraft before it crashed. The RAF Hawk T2, which is regularly used for RAF training exercises, crashed near the RAF Valley training base in the Pencarnisiog area of the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. Helicopters from the Coastguard and Wales Air Ambulance were sent to the scene, with emergency services saying that the resulting fire is now under control.
What Happened?
The RAF Hawk T2 training aircraft reportedly took off from the RAF Valley Royal Air Force station, which is also used as Anglesey Airport (VLY).
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the plane immediately encountered difficulties.
Peter Bennett, who witnessed the crash, told reporters that he,
“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.”
North Wales Police has instructed residents to avoid the scene of the crash until further notice.
How Did the Emergency Services Respond?
The police confirmed that the two pilots had been taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
The force’s statement said that,
“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.”
The pilots were immediately attended to by helicopters from the local coastguard, and the Wales Air Ambulance, with the North Wales Fire and Rescue service being summoned shortly afterwards.
The RAF has confirmed that it is investigating,
“An incident involving an RAF Hawk T2 aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley”
but stated that it will not comment further at this time.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also said that an investigation was underway, but that he would not comment further until more was known about the causes of the crash.
How Has the Crash Impacted Local People?
North Wales Police immediately instructed local residents to avoid the area, which borders a golf course.
This was followed by reports that delays to trains between Bangor and Holyhead had been caused by an obstruction on the line, resulting from the crash. This has not however been confirmed by police.
Services on this line were replaced by buses shortly afterwards, with local Arriva Buses and Avanti West Coast trains between Bangor and Crewe accepting tickets rail tickets between Bangor and Holyhead at no extra cost.
North Wales Fire and Rescue reported roughly two hours after the crash that they had brought the resulting fire under control, but continued to urge people to avoid the scene for as long as possible.
What do you think might have caused the crash? Are you impressed with how the emergency services responded? Let us know in the comments.
