Red Arrows engineer killed in jet crash
AN AIRCRAFT engineer has died after a Red Arrows jet crashed yesterday.
The unnamed man was on board the two-seater Hawk T1 jet when it overshot the runway at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales.
The pilot ejected just metres from the ground and is being treated in hospital after his parachute narrowly saved his life.
But the engineer – who was sitting in the rear of the distinctive red two-man display show aircraft – died in the crash.
Shocking pictures taken by onlookers showed the twisted, mangled wreckage of the jet near a fire engine.
RAF Group Captain Nick TuckerLowe said: “It is with great sadness the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of an engineer from the RAF Aerobatics Team [the Red Arrows] in a tragic accident.
“The serviceman’s family have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.
“The pilot of the aircraft survived the incident and is currently receiving medical care.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, head of the RAF, said: “My deepest thoughts are with the friends and family of those involved.”
The Daily Express understands the Red Arrows were at RAF Valley for their monthly routine Hawk simulator training.
Eyewitness Sian Rebecca Williams said: “It was about to land. I saw the parachute of one pilot open, then the plane hit the runway with a bang. It burned bright orange and there was smoke everywhere.”