Hebden Bridge man sees deadly RAF Valley Red Arrow crash aftermath

A man from Hebden Bridge has spoken about witnessing the moments after a Red Arrow jet crashed at a fighter pilot training ground in north Wales.
A sign at the entrance to RAF Valley in north Wales, where a Red Arrows jet crashed following an incident. The Ministry of Defence confirmed a Hawk aircraft was involved in the accident at the Anglesey base, where pilots and aircrew are trained. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA WireA sign at the entrance to RAF Valley in north Wales, where a Red Arrows jet crashed following an incident. The Ministry of Defence confirmed a Hawk aircraft was involved in the accident at the Anglesey base, where pilots and aircrew are trained. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
A sign at the entrance to RAF Valley in north Wales, where a Red Arrows jet crashed following an incident. The Ministry of Defence confirmed a Hawk aircraft was involved in the accident at the Anglesey base, where pilots and aircrew are trained. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

An RAF engineer died and the pilot of the Hawk fast jet survived the accident at RAF Valley on Anglesey this afternoon. The latter is now in hospital, authorities said.

Witnesses reported seeing someone eject from the aircraft with a parachute before it smashed into the ground then “burned bright orange”.

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Charles Round, a photographer from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, was on holiday in the area with his partner, Helen, when they heard a “muffled explosion” while walking along nearby sand dunes.

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The 61-year-old, who often watches the jets fly over during his stays, said: “I turned round and just saw this big plume of smoke.

“I had some binoculars with me and I could see there was a jet on the runway on fire and within a very short period of time two fire engines turned up and started spraying foam.

“We just thought, oh dear, that’s very sad. We hoped the guy got out, but weren’t hopeful.”

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Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier offered his “deepest thoughts” to the engineer’s family, adding: “This tragic accident is a reminder that we must never take for granted the risks our people take in the service of our country.”

Caterer Anne Wilson, 52, who works at The Anglesey Golf Club, at the end of the RAF Valley runway, said: “I did not see the crash but I heard a very loud noise – we are used to the planes going over but this was unusual.

“I did go and have a look and there was a big fireball and lots of smoke... quite a few of the members actually saw it.

“They said the plane came in quite steeply and they saw a pilot eject, but that it was very low to the ground when they ejected.”

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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 in Lincolnshire, where the aerobatic team are based, when the incident happened.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson sent his “thoughts and prayers” to “the family, friends and colleagues of the RAF engineer at this incredibly sad time”.

Sian Rebecca Williams, an 18-year-old student from Rhosneigr, north Wales, said she was waiting at Rhosneigr train station when the jet flew overhead.

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“The Red Arrow came over and because I’d hardly seen one before I thought ‘Wow, it’s out’,” she said. “From what I remember it did a loop and flew towards the runway and looked like it was about to land.

“As I was looking I saw the parachute of one pilot open and then the plane hit the runway with a bang and a crumbling noise.

“Then it just burned bright orange and there was smoke everywhere.”

The on-base fire engine drove out to the wreckage “instantly”, she said, putting the flames out before an air ambulance arrived.

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The Air Accidents Investigation Branch will now begin a full investigation into what caused the incident, North Wales Police said.

Some 1,500 service personnel, civil servants and contractors work at RAF Valley on Anglesey, which is also home to the military’s search-and-rescue, post-crash team.