The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
'Missing fuel cap' blamed after £20 million RAF jet bursts into flames near caravan park
The aircraft was in the air for only 20 seconds before it came crashing into farmland - the two pilots managed to direct the aircraft away from buildings before ejecting
A £20 million RAF Hawk T2 jet was involved in a high-impact crash after a missing fuel cap was reported during investigation into the incident near Anglesey, North Wales.
Two RAF pilots managed to steer the aircraft away from built-up areas and ejected, surviving with only minor injuries. The jet, which had been airborne for about 20 seconds, subsequently ploughed into farmland near Pencarnisiog and the Afallon Caravan Park in Llanfaelog before bursting into a large fireball.
Ground crews are under scrutiny as investigators assess whether the missing fuel cap contributed to the crash. Sources close to the inquiry indicated a fuel-cap absence was among early findings, though officials said it was too soon to determine the exact cause.
RAF Anglesey’s station commander said the pilots directed the aircraft away from people and buildings before ejecting, noting the pilots believed they were steering toward open ground to avoid harm on the ground. The incident prompted ongoing investigations by the RAF.
The crash leaves the RAF with a fleet of 26 Hawk 2 jets, and the service continues to review mechanical and procedural factors amid the broader context of training aircraft reliability and safety.