"An investigation is under way and we will not comment further at this time," the Royal Air Force said after a Hawk T2 training jet crashed in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, North Wales, on Wednesday.
Crash site: Pencarnisiog, Anglesey, near RAF Valley
Video and on‑scene reports place the impact in the countryside near RAF Valley, a station on Anglesey that hosts fast‑jet pilot training. The wreckage was located at the crash site, and police asked the public to avoid the area while emergency services remained at the scene. Local accounts and footage show the aircraft descending into open ground rather than striking buildings; there were no reports of wider damage or additional casualties.
Video evidence: porpoising, high angle of attack, and ejection
Several videos posted to social media captured the final seconds of the flight. The recordings show the Hawk porpoising at a slow speed and a pronounced high angle of attack before both crew members ejected. In the footage the jet appears to narrowly miss nearby homes, then impacts the countryside and bursts into flames, producing a column of thick black smoke. The clips were circulated by accounts including Klaxon Wire and Politics UK in posts timestamped September 23, 2026.
Audit-ready is a season. It shouldn't be.
Evidence in spreadsheets, controls drifting between audits, frameworks multiplying on flat headcount. Nubivance runs continuous compliance on Rapid7 Cyber GRC - SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI, CMMC.
End the scrambleEmergency response and the condition of the crew
Emergency services responded, including the Coastguard and Wales Air Ambulance helicopters. Local police reported both pilots were being treated for minor injuries. There were no reports of casualties beyond the aircrew. Wreckage recovery and scene safety remained priorities as authorities worked at the site.
RAF Valley and No. 4 Flying Training School: context for the flight
The Royal Air Force confirmed the aircraft involved was one of its Hawk T2 trainers flying out of RAF Valley. The station is home to No. 4 Flying Training School and operates Hawk T2s as part of fast‑jet pilot training. The Telegraph is reported to have said the incident occurred shortly after takeoff, though the RAF statement declined to provide further immediate details.
Hawk T2 fleet history and prior technical issues
The Hawk T2 fleet has experienced earlier technical problems that are part of the public record. In 2022, engines were removed from service amid concerns over potential in‑flight failures. The RAF's 28‑aircraft Hawk T2 fleet was temporarily grounded in January 2023 following an engine‑related incident at RAF Valley. In 2024, then‑Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said he wanted to replace the Hawk T2, citing problems with its engines and support and expressing concerns about the reliability of the training capacity it provided. The Hawk T2 is due to be retired by 2040. Those previous issues are not known to be connected to Wednesday’s crash.
What this means for the Royal Air Force, local residents, and training operations
- For the Royal Air Force: the service has opened an investigation and — per its public statement — will not comment further while that work is under way. The RAF will also have wreckage to inspect at the site as investigators seek to establish the sequence of events and any technical or operational causes.
- For local residents and emergency services: authorities asked the public to avoid the area while responders secured the scene. Footage of a near‑miss to homes will heighten local interest in the investigation’s findings and in any short‑term measures to manage training flights from RAF Valley.
- For training operations at No. 4 Flying Training School: the loss of a trainer and the pending investigation could prompt immediate scheduling and safety reviews, particularly in light of the Hawk T2 fleet’s documented history of engine‑related concerns, though no link between those earlier issues and this crash has been established.
The RAF confirmed the basic facts: a Hawk T2 from RAF Valley crashed, both pilots ejected and were being treated for minor injuries, wreckage has been found, and an investigation is under way. Beyond that, officials have not released details about the cause, the nature of the flight, or whether the accident occurred shortly after takeoff — a timing reported by one outlet but not confirmed by the RAF. The scene, the footage, and the fleet’s past problems ensure the inquiry will be watched closely by the service and by local communities alike.
This is a developing story. Contact for the original report: thomas@thewarzone.com
