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Red Arrows jet with two people on board crashes at RAF Valley in Wales

Andy Wells
·Freelance Writer
<em>Smoke can be seen at the site where the Red Arrows jet crashed (SWNS/PA)</em>
Smoke can be seen at the site where the Red Arrows jet crashed (SWNS/PA)

A Red Arrows jet has crashed after an incident at RAF Valley in north Wales, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

It is understood there were two people on board the Red Arrows jet aircraft which crashed on Tuesday.

An MoD spokesman said: ‘We are aware of an incident today at RAF Valley involving a Hawk aircraft,” a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

<em>The Red Arrows jet crashed in RAF Valley in North Wales (PA/file pic)</em>
The Red Arrows jet crashed in RAF Valley in North Wales (PA/file pic)
<em>Handout photo issued by Sian Rebecca Williams of smoke rising after the Red Arrows jet crashed (PA)</em>
Handout photo issued by Sian Rebecca Williams of smoke rising after the Red Arrows jet crashed (PA)

‘We are investigating the incident and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.’

The Red Arrows Twitter page also confirmed the crash, writing: ‘We are aware of an incident today at RAF Valley involving a Hawk aircraft. We are investigating the incident.’

North Wales Police confirmed they were in attendance and were called to the scene at around 1.50pm.

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Caterer Anne Wilson, who works at The Anglesey Golf Club, situated at the end of the runway at RAF Valley, witnessed the aftermath of the crash.

The 52-year-old said: ‘I did not see the crash but I heard a very loud noise.

‘We are used to the planes going over but this was unusual, it was different to what we normally hear around here.

<em>An eyewitness described hearing a ‘very loud noise’ (SWNS)</em>
An eyewitness described hearing a ‘very loud noise’ (SWNS)

‘I did go and have a look and there was a big fireball and lots of dark smoke… quite a few of the members actually saw it.

‘They said the plane came in quite steeply and saw a pilot eject, but that it was very low to the ground when they ejected.’

She said the air ambulance was at the scene ‘for a very long time’.

<em>It is believed two people were on board the jet that crashed (PA/file pic)</em>
It is believed two people were on board the jet that crashed (PA/file pic)

Another eyewitness told the Daily Post that they saw someone ejecting from aircraft before it crashed.

They said: ‘I was sat at Rhosneigr train station waiting for the train and you can see the airfield from there and I was watching the Red Arrow flying because you hardly ever see them and then it looked like it was about to land then next thing I saw was the parachute and then the plane hit the runway and went up in flames.’

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said: ‘We were called shortly before 1.30pm this afternoon to reports an aircraft had crashed at RAF Valley in Holyhead.

<em>The world-famous aerobatic team performs stunts and daredevil displays, and flies the distinctive Hawk fast-jets (PA)</em>
The world-famous aerobatic team performs stunts and daredevil displays, and flies the distinctive Hawk fast-jets (PA)

‘We sent an emergency ambulance and a Wales Air Ambulance to the scene.’

The world-famous aerobatic team performs stunts and daredevil displays, and flies the distinctive Hawk fast-jets.

Based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, all Red Arrows pilots have flown operationally in frontline aircraft before joining the display team.