RAF JET HORROR
Probe into fatal Valley crash as tributes pour in for victim
By ERYL CRUMP Daily Post Chief Reporter eryl.crump@trinitymirror.com
THE wreckage of the Red Arrows jet which crashed at RAF Valley has been removed.
An engineer on board was killed and the pilot was seriously injured after he ejected seconds before the Hawk plane hit the ground and burst into flames.
Heavy lifting gear was brought onto the runway on Friday and the fuselage and wings were lifted onto a truck and taken away.
Gusts of 50mph had hampered the recovery operation on Thursday, and despite the strong winds continuing yesterday a large crane drove onto the airfield shortly after 7am and began the task of removing the aircraft.
The operation was completed by late morning when the weather conditions had abated.
An RAF spokesman said the wreckage would be taken away for a more detailed examination by experts who are hoping to pinpoint the cause of the crash.
The Hawk, flown by Flight Lieutenant David Stark, 35, was taking off from the airfield on Anglesey to return to the Red Arrows’ base at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, when tragedy struck shortly before 2pm on Tuesday.
Aviation enthusiasts who witnessed the accident said the jet was seen to depart as normal after engine checks, but there is some speculation it suffered a sudden loss of power seconds after it became airborne.
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft turned back towards the Rhosneigr end of the runway, and as it made an approach, plummeted to the ground.
Aircraft mechanic Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, 41, was killed in the impact.
Mr Stark was seen parachuting to the ground and was flown by air ambulance to a specialist trauma unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. His injuries were said to be non-life threatening.
Emergency crews raced to the scene and the airfield fire service quickly brought the blaze under control.
North Wales Police officers attended and secured the airfield perimeter immediately after the crash, but a spokeswoman said yesterday they have played no part in the detailed examination of the scene and recovery of the aircraft.
“The investigation is being led by the military air accident investigation branch and no criminal investigation is underway,” she added.
North Wales senior coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said the death of Mr Baylis had been reported to him and an investigation has been launched.
He said a post-mortem examination was carried out at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, on Thursday by Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers, with RAF medical personnel also present.