RAF Hawk jet crashes after missing fuel cap, pilots eject safely

A £20 million RAF Hawk T2 jet burst into flames and crashed near Pencarnisiog and the Afallon Caravan Park in North Wales after taking off from RAF Anglesey on September 23. An investigation has identified that the aircraft’s fuel cap was not installed, a lapse attributed to ground-crew standards, though some sources still consider engine failure a possible factor. The aircraft’s two occupants - an experienced pilot and a trainee - maneuvered the jet away from populated areas before ejecting, suffering only minor injuries.

The crash created a large fireball on farmland and prompted the RAF to ground its entire fleet of 26 Hawk jets, which were cleared to fly again on October 8. Station commander Group Captain Gez Currie emphasized the pilots’ effort to avoid built-up areas, while senior RAF officials noted the incident raises concerns about maintenance procedures. Earlier criticism of the Hawk fleet’s reliability dates back to 2003 comments by Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton.