Red Arrows plane crash at RAF Valley in North Wales leaves engineer dead – but pilot SURVIVES after ‘ejecting’.
It is understood the Red Arrows aircrew had been at RAF Valley for routine Hawk simulator training – something that takes place once a month.
They had just taken off from the base and were on their way back to RAF Scampton, where the aerobatic team are based, when the incident happened.
The Hawk fast jet was destroyed in the crash with an eyewitness describing seeing a “big fireball”.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed a Hawk aircraft was involved in the accident at the Anglesey base, where pilots and aircrew are trained.
It is understood there were two people on board the fast-jet, with onlookers reporting they saw someone eject from the aircraft before it hit the ground.
A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust confirmed an emergency ambulance and an air ambulance were sent to the scene after they were called at 1.30pm today.
The world-famous aerobatic team performs stunts and daredevil displays, and fly 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.
Group captain Nick Tucker-Lowe said in a statement: “It’s with great sadness that the RAF can confirm the death of an engineer from the RAF aerobatics team The Red Arrows in a tragic accident today.
“The engineer’s family have been informed and have asked for a 24-hour period of grace before further details are released.
“The pilot of the aircraft survived the incident and is currently receiving medical care.”
