RAF jet crashes moments after take-off in North Wales 2026

Key Points

• A training aircraft from the RAF, the Hawk T2, crashed just minutes after take-off from RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
• Those who witnessed the crash have said that the flames were seen coming from the aircraft on take-off, as well as violent pitching, followed by the crew ejecting before the jet crashed one mile away.
• According to North Wales Police, two pilots have been receiving treatment for what is believed to be minor injuries, without any more injuries or damage being reported at this time.
• The emergency services team, including an air ambulance, responded to the scene where smoke was billowing up from the crash site near Rhosneigr.
• An investigation is taking place into the crash of the RAF T2 Hawk from RAF Valley.

Wales (Wales Times) September 2026 — An RAF Hawk T2 training jet crashed moments after taking off from RAF Valley in Anglesey on Wednesday afternoon, with witnesses describing flames on the runway, violent manoeuvres in the air, and both crew members ejecting before the aircraft came down. Emergency services attended the scene of the major incident, and North uk/police/">Wales Police said two pilots were being treated for what were thought to be minor injuries, with no further injuries or damage reported at this stage. The Ministry of Defence confirmed an investigation is underway into the incident involving the RAF T2 Hawk aircraft flying out of RAF Valley.

What happened during the RAF jet crash in North Wales?

Multiple eyewitness accounts and early official statements indicate the aircraft encountered trouble almost immediately after departure. As reported by witnesses quoted by North Wales Live and carried by the Nottingham Post, the jet climbed after take-off before pitching up violently twice, after which both pilots ejected and the Hawk crashed about a mile away.

One witness, Pete Bennett, told North Wales Live 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”, according to coverage by The Aviationist.

Other witnesses described hearing an “enormous bang” and seeing a “huge wall of fire” and black smoke as the aircraft came down near the village of Rhosneigr, as reported by the Daily Mail. Footage and images circulating on social media showed thick black plumes of smoke billowing from the crash site, with an air ambulance landing nearby, according to live updates from the Liverpool Echo.

Where did the RAF Hawk T2 crash take place?

The incident occurred near RAF Valley on the island of Anglesey in north-west Wales, a major RAF fast-jet training base. Witnesses placed the crash site roughly a mile from their vantage point on the shoreside, with the aircraft coming down in countryside near Rhosneigr, as reported by the Daily Mail and The Sun. Emergency services treated the scene as a major incident, with police cordons and specialist support deployed while initial assessments were carried out, according to the North Wales Chronicle.

Who were on board the RAF jet and what is their condition?

The aircraft was a two-seat Hawk T2 training jet, typically operated by a pilot and a student or instructor, though the exact roles of the two crew members have not been disclosed. North Wales Police said two pilots were being treated for what were thought to be minor injuries and that, at this stage, no further injuries had been reported, according to updates carried by Wrexham.com and the Mirror. The Liverpool Echo reported that two crew members appeared to have ejected from the aircraft moments before it crashed and were believed to have suffered minor injuries in the incident.

What have witnesses said about the RAF jet crash?

Witness statements published across several outlets describe a rapid sequence of events from take-off to ejection. One eyewitness, writing on Facebook and quoted by UK Defence Journal, said:

“We watched it takeoff, we’re on shoreside and have watched hundreds take off. I said to my wife it’s in trouble as I could see flames as in took off. We watched it climb then as it was parallel with us it started to pitch up violently twice… then both pilots ejected and the Hawk crash about a mile away.”

Pete Bennett, another witness, wrote on social media that he had “just witnessed a RAF Hawk crash after takeoff, both pilots ejected safely”, as reported by Metro. The Nottingham Post carried witness accounts saying they saw two pilots “eject from their seats” mere moments before the crash in Anglesey, where thick black plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the site. The Sun reported an eyewitness telling the publication:

“We watched it take off; we’re on shoreside and have watched hundreds take off. I said to my wife it’s in trouble as I could see flames as it took off… Then both pilots ejected, and the Hawk crashed about a mile away.”

What have authorities said about the RAF jet crash?

North Wales Police issued updates stating that two pilots were being treated for what were thought to be minor injuries and that, at this stage, no further damage or injuries had been reported, according to the Mirror and Wrexham.com. The force treated the incident as a major incident on Anglesey, with emergency services on scene and investigations beginning to establish the full circumstances, as reported by the North Wales Chronicle.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed an investigation into the crash is currently underway. An RAF spokesperson said:

“An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is underway and we will not comment further at this time,”

according to Caliber.Az and The Sun. The Aviationist reported that two parachutes could be seen descending to the ground as the stricken jet fell out of the sky, consistent with witness accounts of successful ejections.

What is the RAF Hawk T2 aircraft?

The Hawk T2 is a advanced jet trainer used by the Royal Air Force to prepare pilots for fast-jet operations, including transition to frontline aircraft such as the Typhoon and F-35. RAF Valley on Anglesey is the RAF’s primary fast-jet training station, where Hawk T2 aircraft are routinely used for take-offs, circuits, and training sorties over nearby ranges and coastal areas. The type is a single-engine, tandem two-seat jet capable of high subsonic speeds and is equipped with ejection seats for both crew members, which witnesses said were used in this incident.

Background to the development

RAF Valley has been the centre of UK military fast-jet training for decades, and Hawk T2 crashes, while rare, have occurred in the past during training operations. The Hawk family has a long service history with the RAF, and the T2 variant was introduced to replace earlier Hawk T1 aircraft in the advanced training role. Incidents involving training jets typically trigger formal service investigations led by the RAF and the Ministry of Defence to examine factors such as aircraft systems, maintenance records, crew actions, and environmental conditions. In this case, the MoD’s statement that an investigation is underway follows standard procedure after any accident involving a military aircraft, particularly one that results in a crash and ejection.

Prediction: how this development may affect RAF personnel and local communities

If the investigation finds a technical fault or operational issue specific to this aircraft or sortie, it could lead to temporary restrictions on certain training activities at RAF Valley while checks are carried out across the Hawk T2 fleet. For RAF personnel, especially trainee pilots and instructors, this may mean adjustments to flying schedules, additional safety briefings, or revised procedures until the inquiry publishes its findings.

For local communities around Anglesey, a high-profile crash close to populated areas often increases scrutiny of low-level flying routes and training patterns, potentially prompting renewed dialogue between the MoD, local councils, and residents about noise, safety corridors, and emergency response arrangements. In the longer term, depending on the inquiry’s conclusions, the incident could influence training curricula, maintenance protocols, or even fleet management decisions for the Hawk T2 as the RAF continues to modernise its pilot training pipeline.