Red Arrows crash: jet in 'fireball' crash at RAF Valley base in Wales

A Red Arrows jet has crashed in Wales at an RAF base, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Witnesses reported the plane smashing into the runway before it "went up in flames" as they looked on in horror.

Emergency services raced to the scene after the dramatic crash in RAF Valley, Anglesey, on Tuesday afternoon.

It is understood there were two people on board and witnesses claimed they saw the pilots eject, however their condition is not clear.

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A picture by a shocked bystander showed a thick plume of smoke rising from the runway in collision's aftermath.

Footage then captured an air ambulance that was scrambled to the scene.

The jet was flying from RAF Valley back to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire when the accident took place, according to the BBC.

"We are aware of an incident today at RAF Valley involving a Hawk aircraft," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

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

A witness told the Daily Post they saw the plane approach the runway then hit it and burst into flames.

They said: "I was sat at Rhosneigr train station waiting for the train and you can see the air field 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."

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

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.

"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".

The Welsh Ambulance Service said: "We were called shortly before 1.30pm this afternoon to reports an aircraft had crashed at RAF Valley in Holyhead.

"There is an emergency ambulance and a Wales Air Ambulance at the scene."

North Wales Police said on Twitter: "We can confirm that we are in attendance following an incident at #RAFValley.

"We will update as soon as we have more information."

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.

In November 2011 the highly experienced Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham, 35, was fatally injured when he was ejected from the cockpit of a Hawk T1 aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire.

A coroner ruled that the safety pin on the ejector seat had been "entirely useless".