Moment two trainee RAF pilots eject from Hawk jet caught in spectacular video footage

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 08:40 EDT, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 09:58 EDT, 23 September 2026 Two trainee RAF pilots were caught in spectacular video footage ejecting from a Hawk jet in Wales today.The Hawk T2 plummeted to the ground moments after taking off, with witnesses reporting a 'big bang' and flames coming from the aircraft.Both crew members ejected safely using parachutes. They were located shortly afterwards and are currently being treated for minor injuries, North Wales Police said. Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, before it crashed near the village of Rhosneigr. Incredible footage shows the jet jerking violently as it careered through the air before the two service personnel simultaneously launched their escape from the craft.Seconds later the Hawk began a steady plummet downwards before crashing and being engulfed in a fireball and huge plume of smoke. A separate video posted to Facebook shows a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter landing in a field close to the incident, but it is not thought its assistance was required.Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones published a picture on the social media site appearing to show two ejected crew members with parachutes floating to the ground.'Hope everyone is ok,' he wrote. 'Rhosneigr, big bang, jet on fire out of control and two parachutes??'The Hawk T2 training aircraft crashed moments after taking off, with both pilots ejecting safely (pictured) Spectacular footage shows the moment both pilots made their escape from the ailing aircraft An enormous fireball erupted as the jet crashed near the village of Rhosneigr, Anglesey Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, and heard 'a big bang' before it came down near the village of Rhosneigr The pilots were located shortly after the crash and are being treated for minor injuries The Hawk T2 plummeted to the ground moments after taking off, with witnesses reporting a 'big bang' and flames coming from the jet The aircraft jerked violently before careering vertically towards the ground once the pilots had evacuatedOne witness said they had watched the jet take off and told his wife 'it's in trouble as I could see flames'.He wrote: '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 crashed about a mile away.'North Wales Police has warned people to avoid the area 'until further notice'.A spokesperson for the force said: 'Local officers are currently in attendance to reports of an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed.'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.' 'Please avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be issued when appropriate.' A Royal Air Force 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.'RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF's No4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain's next generation of fighter pilots.The Hawk T2 is built by BAE Systems and has been used to train British pilots since 1976.