Hawk fighter jets to resume flying at RAF Valley after crash

High-speed Hawk fighter jets will resume flying out of RAF Valley after two pilots ejected and parachuted out of their plane moments before it crashed last month.

The Hawk T2 aircraft had been flying out of the RAF Valley base on Anglesey when it plummeted to the ground at nearby Pencarnisiog, narrowly missing homes.

The RAF said it had decided to pause Hawk operations while investigations were ongoing.

It meant the Red Arrows were also temporarily grounded following the crash but resumed later that week.

RAF Valley said the T2 aircraft will resume flying on Thursday afternoon after a "thorough review of the information currently available and appropriate safety assurance activity".

"The decision has been taken at the highest level, after extensive scrutiny, that the necessary safety controls and assurance measures are in place to support a measured and controlled return to flying," the statement said.

It said the safety of aircrew, personnel and local communities remained "paramount", adding the investigation into last month's incident will continue alongside normal flying and safety processes.

Describing last month's incident, eyewitnesses said the plane came down near village homes, with debris ending up near a caravan site.

A video of the crash shared on social media appeared to show the two pilots ejecting from the aircraft before it nosedived, crashed and burst into flames.

The footage also showed a plume of smoke and fire erupting as the aircraft hit the ground, appearing to narrowly miss residential properties.

A trainee and an experienced professional parachuted out of the plane and are expected to make a full recovery after being treated for minor injuries. They previously thanked emergency services after returning home.

The Hawk T1, and newer T2 versions are transonic, two-seat training aircraft used to train fast jet pilots.