RAF engineer killed as Red Arrows jet crashes in North Wales

An RAF engineer was killed when a Red Arrows jet crashed shortly after take-off at RAF Valley in north Wales,  the Ministry of Defence has said. 

The pilot survived the crash and is believed to have ejected shortly before the  Hawk aircraft hit the ground at the base in Anglesey.

An RAF spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that the MoD must confirm the death of an engineer from the RAF Aerobatics Team (the Red Arrows) in a tragic accident today. 

"The serviceman’s family have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.  The pilot of the aircraft survived the incident and is currently receiving medical care."

A plume of black smoke could be seen billowing over the base as witnesses claimed they saw the aircraft burst into flames.

It was the third Red Arrows accident in seven years following two fatalities in 2011.

The crash occurred at around 1.30pm shortly after take-off as the aircraft was due to head back to the Red Arrows base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

The on-base fire engine drove out to the wreckage instantly, putting the flames out before an air ambulance arrived.

The Red Arrows had been training on RAF Valley's flight simulators ahead of the forthcoming display season.

Sources said North Wales Police will lead a full investigation into the crash.

An MoD spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident today at RAF Valley involving a Hawk aircraft.

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

The RAF appealed to the public to send in any information or pictures of the incident, urging them not to share them on social media.

Witness Sian Williams told the Daily Post: "I was sat at Rhosneigr train station waiting for the train and you can see the air field from there.

"I was watching the Red Arrow flying because you hardly ever see them and then it looked like it was about to land.

"The next thing I saw was the parachute and then the plane hit the runway and went up in flames."

Local aviation enthusiast Wyn Evans said the aircraft took off and then got into difficulty.

He said it continued banking towards the railway line and back again towards the airfield.

It then approached the runway and he saw two people eject before the Hawk crashed on the airfield. 

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

All Red Arrows pilots have flown operationally in frontline aircraft before joining the display team.

In August 2011, Flt Lt Jon Egging was killed during an air show near Bournemouth Airport in Dorset.

The 33 year–old, from Rutland, was the first Red Arrows pilot to die in a crash for 33 years. His wife Emma had been watching him perform just minutes before he went down.

Three months later, Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, 35, fell to his death after being blown 300ft into the air when the ejection seat in his Hawk T1 fired as he prepared for take–off at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

An inquest heard that the pilot, from Coventry, died of multiple injuries when he hit the ground and his life would have been saved if his parachute had opened.

RAF Valley, where the Duke of Cambridge was based for three years as a search and rescue pilot,  is used to train UK fighter pilots and aircrew for mountain and maritime operations.

Around 1,500 service personnel, civil servants and contractors work there.