Two RAF pilots ejected from their jet seconds before it crashed and burned near Anglesey, and the footage of the moment shows something unexpected: flames coming off the side of the engine, not the rear.
The RAF is investigating the crash of the Hawk T2 training jet, which plummeted to the ground at Pencarnisiog after both pilots bailed out. North Wales Police said the pilots, who were flying a training aircraft, were treated for minor injuries. The RAF said training on these jets had been “temporarily” paused as a “precautionary measure”.
Where the Crash Happened
RAF Valley, on Anglesey, serves as a base for basic and advanced fast-jet training. The area is “perfectly situated for training pilots”, according to BBC security analyst Mikey Kay, who also served in the RAF for 20 years.
The base sits near the Machynlleth Loop, a series of valleys between Dolgellau in Gwynedd and Machynlleth in Powys. Kay described the location as ideal for low-level flying, instrument work, formation flying and general handling.
What Kind of Jet Was Involved
The Hawk T2 is a two-seat training jet made by BAe Systems. It is used for advanced jet training and is designed with similar controls to the Typhoon fighter jet. The RAF says it comes with an advanced “glass cockpit”.
The older version, the Hawk T1, is used by the Red Arrows. The BBC understands the Red Arrows are also included in the pause, though they were not due to fly again until the Le Touquet Airshow in France this weekend. It is not known when the restriction will be lifted.
The Flames That Were Not Engine Failure
Kay shared video on social media showing flames rising from the rear of the T2 as it rolled down the runway. As the jet climbed, the flames seemed to disappear.
The expert explained that Hawks are non-reheated jets, meaning they lack reheat — the secondary combustion system that injects raw fuel into a jet engine’s exhaust stream. That system produces the orange flames often seen on jets like the F18 or Tornado.
“You never ever see flames coming out of the back of a Hawk,” Kay said. In the video, the flames appeared to come off the side of the engine — where the main hydraulics system is, which controls how the plane flies — rather than out of the engine itself.
Kay said it is too early to say what caused the crash, but he suggested the engine was likely not the problem. The footage shows the flames trailing from the side of the engine, not the rear exhaust.
Why the Flight Was Not Aborted
Kay noted that a red and white van was parked on the side of the runway in the video he shared on X. He said that van belonged to spotters, not air traffic control, and therefore had no authority to tell the jet to abort.
The van does have a direct line to air traffic control, Kay said, but “by the time that conversation has happened, the jet is already airborne”. The spotters could not order the flight to stop.
How the Pilots Got Out
Footage of the crash shows the two pilots ejecting from the aircraft before it nosedived, crashed and burst into flames. A plume of smoke and fire erupted as the aircraft hit the ground, narrowly missing residential properties.
Kay called the footage of the pilots ejecting being caught on camera “quite remarkable”. He said the ejection seat was “one of the big lifesavers in this whole story”.
There are two options for ejection in a T2 jet, which usually involves an experienced pilot trainer and a student. They are:
- Both pilots pull a black and yellow ring between their legs.
- “Command ejection”, where one pilot ejects both seats, with whoever is sitting at the back going first.
Once the pilot decides to eject, a miniature detonation cord (MDC) sets off to shatter the canopy. The aircraft seat is designed for the pilot to eject at zero speed and zero height, giving enough time for the parachute to inflate before hitting the ground.
Kay said this is the first known case of this variant, the T2, ejecting pilots out of it. He added that the safety record for these jets is “obviously very good”.
What We Know So Far
The investigation is ongoing, and the RAF has not released details beyond the pause in training. The pilots were treated for minor injuries.
The footage shows a jet trailing flames off its side rather than its rear, which Kay says suggests the crash may not have been caused by engine failure.
The Key Facts
- Jet: Hawk T2, made by BAe Systems
- Base: RAF Valley on Anglesey
- Location: Pencarnisiog, near the Machynlleth Loop
- Pilots: Two, both ejected safely
- Injuries: Minor, treated by North Wales Police
- Pause: Training on these jets is temporarily paused as a precautionary measure
- Red Arrows: Included in the pause, not due to fly again until Le Touquet Airshow in France
What Comes Next
The investigation will determine what caused the crash. The pause in training will continue until investigators can say what went wrong.
Source material: “What video footage tells us about RAF training jet crash,” the BBC.
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