Two pilots ejected from a Royal Air Force Hawk T2 training aircraft before it crashed near RAF Valley on Anglesey, North Wales, on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.

North Wales Police said the pilots were being treated for injuries thought to be minor. The force said there were no reports at that stage of wider injuries or damage and asked people to avoid the area while emergency services responded.

The Royal Air Force confirmed that an incident involving a Hawk T2 flying from RAF Valley had occurred near Anglesey and said an investigation was under way. The cause of the accident has not been established.

What happened near RAF Valley?

The incident occurred in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey on Wednesday afternoon. Current reporting from Sky News, The Independent and specialist aviation outlets says both crew members ejected from the two-seat training jet before the aircraft came down.

Police described the pilots' injuries as thought to be minor. That assessment may change as medical checks continue, so early reports should not be treated as a final clinical diagnosis.

There were no reported injuries to people on the ground or reports of wider damage in the police's initial statement.

RAF investigation under way

The RAF said it would investigate the incident and was not commenting further while that process was under way. No official cause had been announced at the time of publication.

That distinction is important: photographs, video or eyewitness descriptions can document parts of an accident, but they do not by themselves establish why an aircraft crashed. Any determination about technical failure, human factors or other causes will depend on the formal investigation.

What is the Hawk T2?

The Hawk T2 is a two-seat advanced training jet used to prepare military pilots for front-line fast-jet operations. According to the RAF, it has modern avionics and a glass cockpit designed to expose trainees to systems and tactical environments similar to those they will encounter later in their careers.

RAF Valley is the Hawk T2's principal operating base. The station on Anglesey is home to No 4 Flying Training School and provides advanced fast-jet training for RAF and Royal Navy pilots.

The RAF lists both IV Squadron and XXV (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Valley as Hawk T2 operators. Students progress through advanced and tactical training before moving to operational conversion units for front-line aircraft.

What happens next?

Investigators will seek to establish the sequence of events leading to the accident and examine relevant aircraft, operational and flight information. The RAF has not publicly attributed a cause.

FlyingEze will update this report if the RAF, Ministry of Defence, North Wales Police or other relevant authorities release material new information.

Key points

  • An RAF Hawk T2 was involved in an accident near RAF Valley on Anglesey on 23 September 2026.
  • Both pilots ejected before the aircraft came down.
  • Police said their injuries were thought to be minor.
  • No wider injuries or damage were reported in the initial police statement.
  • The RAF says an investigation is under way; no cause has yet been established.