The Royal Air Force has temporarily suspended Hawk T1 and T2 flying after a Hawk T2 crashed near RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales, on Wednesday. Two pilots ejected from the aircraft and were treated for minor injuries, while no wider injuries or ground damage were reported.
The aircraft came down in the Pencarnisiog area shortly after take-off from the RAF’s main fast-jet training base. North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene, with firefighters bringing the blaze under control. The pause covers both the Hawk T2 advanced trainer and the Hawk T1 fleet used by the Red Arrows, affecting a core part of the RAF’s pilot training pipeline.
The service described the halt as a precaution while investigators examine the incident. The cause has not been established and no timetable has been given for resuming operations. Hawk aircraft are central to advanced jet training in the UK, and any extended suspension could disrupt training throughput as well as display flying linked to the T1 fleet.