RAF Hawk T2 Crashes Near Anglesey Base After Takeoff

An RAF Hawk T2 training jet crashed near its home base on Anglesey on the afternoon of September 23, 2026. Both pilots ejected from the £16 million aircraft before it crashed and exploded, sustaining only minor injuries.

The incident occurred in the Pencarnisiog area, less than two miles from RAF Valley on the Welsh island. The jet had just taken off from the base when it encountered trouble. A video of the event shows the aircraft climbing unevenly before the crew ejected, after which it nosedived while trailing smoke.

North Wales Police confirmed that local officers attended alongside colleagues from the RAF, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the Welsh Ambulance Service, and air ambulance units. The fire at the crash site was brought under control. Authorities warned the public to avoid the area while emergency work continued, a precaution that led to local train line closures and replacement bus services between Bangor and Holyhead.

One eyewitness, local resident Pete Bennett, told media he knew the aircraft was in trouble right from takeoff. He reported seeing an orange flame as it accelerated, with the flame disappearing at altitude before the jet pitched violently twice. He then heard two loud bangs at around 800 feet, saw the pilots eject and their parachutes open, followed by a huge wall of fire and black smoke. Bennett said the aircrew landed approximately a mile inland from the runway, roughly halfway to the crash site. Another witness, Donna Jones, reported seeing a massive black cloud of smoke off a mountain.

Data from flight tracking services showed two air ambulances departing from the scene. No one at a nearby campsite was injured, and there were no reports of wider damage on the ground. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said his thoughts were first and foremost with the pilots and that an investigation had been launched. An RAF spokesperson stated an investigation is underway and they would not comment further at this time. As a precautionary measure, the RAF has temporarily paused high-speed Hawk fighter jet training.

The Hawk T2's Role and Replacement Plans

RAF Valley is home to No. 4 Flying Training School, which uses the Hawk T2 to prepare pilots for frontline fighter jets like the Typhoon and the F-35B. Before this crash, the school operated a fleet of 28 Hawk T2 aircraft. The fleet has faced persistent availability problems for some time.

In January 2023, the RAF temporarily paused Hawk T2 flying after an engine issue on the runway at RAF Valley, which was reportedly linked to blade wear on the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 951 engine. The UK Ministry of Defence is now actively seeking a successor to the Hawk. The 2025 Strategic Defence Review called for replacing both the Hawk T1 and T2 with a more cost-effective fast jet trainer.

On August 7, 2026, the ministry published a formal request for information for a new advanced jet trainer, a programme intended to cover both the training fleet and the Red Arrows display team. The Defence Investment Plan has allocated £360 million, equivalent to approximately $485 million, to this new trainer programme. The response window for the request for information closed on September 11, 2026, just twelve days before the crash at RAF Valley.

Investigation and Aftermath

An investigation into the cause of the September 23 crash is now underway. The RAF and defence authorities are expected to provide further updates in due course.