RAF Pilots Eject as Commander Says Jet Was Aimed Away From Homes Before Crash
Two Royal Air Force pilots ejected from a training aircraft moments before it crashed on the island of Anglesey in north Wales, with an RAF commander saying the jet would have been directed towards open ground to avoid populated areas. The Hawk T2 aircraft was operating from RAF Valley when it went down near Pencarnisiog on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Both pilots, a trainee and an experienced instructor, were treated for minor injuries and are expected to make a full recovery, according to the RAF.
Group Captain Gez Currie, the station commander at RAF Valley, said the aircraft would have been aimed in a direction the pilot believed was an open field, in an effort to avoid built-up areas and people on the ground. His comments offered an initial account of the circumstances surrounding the crash, although investigators have yet to establish what caused the aircraft to go down. Currie described the flight as a routine training mission across the Anglesey area and said it was too early to draw conclusions about the incident.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show the two pilots ejecting before the aircraft descended sharply and crashed, producing a large fireball and plume of smoke. The wreckage came down near residential properties and agricultural buildings in the Pencarnisiog area. Emergency services, including North Wales Police, fire and rescue crews and ambulance teams, responded to the scene. Authorities reported no wider injuries among members of the public.
The RAF confirmed that it had temporarily suspended flying operations involving its Hawk T1 and T2 aircraft as a precaution while a formal investigation takes place. The suspension also affects the Red Arrows aerobatic display team, which operates the Hawk T1. Officials have not announced when the restrictions will be lifted.
The Hawk T2 is a two-seat advanced training aircraft used to prepare pilots for flying fast jets. RAF Valley, located on Anglesey, is home to a flying training school that prepares pilots for frontline aircraft. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances leading to the crash and the actions taken by the crew before ejecting.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks associated with military flight training and the importance of emergency procedures designed to protect both aircrew and people on the ground. While the two pilots are expected to recover, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the RAF has said further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
