Two pilots escaped unharmed after their RAF Hawk T2 training jet crashed near RAF Valley on Anglesey, north Wales, on Wednesday, officials said. The aircraft reportedly experienced a critical failure shortly after takeoff, leading it to nosedive into scrubland close to a camping site near the village of Rhosneigr before bursting into flames.

According to Group Captain Gez Currie, station commander at RAF Valley, the pilots managed to steer the failing aircraft away from residential areas in the moments before the crash, likely aiming to avoid homes and people on the ground. “The aircraft would have been aimed in a direction that the pilot believed was open field, in order to avoid built-up areas and anybody on the ground,” he told media outlets.

Both airmen successfully ejected and parachuted to safety. They were subsequently transported to hospital and are currently recovering. The RAF described their condition as stable, noting that they remain in “extremely good spirits” and are expected to make a full recovery. Their identities have not been released.

Following the incident, the entire fleet of Hawk T2 training aircraft has been temporarily grounded pending an investigation into the cause of the malfunction. The Red Arrows aerobatic display team, which operates the earlier Hawk T1 variant, has also suspended flights as a precaution.

The Hawk T2, a two-seat advanced jet trainer valued at approximately £16 million, plays a key role in preparing RAF pilots for frontline service. The investigation is ongoing to determine the factors that led to this rare and serious incident at RAF Valley.