According to reports, the pilot successfully ejected, and is receiving medical treatment in hospital. An RAF engineer was killed in the accident.
The Welsh Ambulance Service was called shortly before 1:30 pm local time with reports of a crash at the RAF Valley airforce station on the island of Anglesey. A spokesperson for the service confirmed that an emergency ambulance and a Wales Air Ambulance have been deployed to the scene.
The Royal Air Force has issued a tweet confirming that it was aware that an incident involving a Red Arrows Hawk aircraft had taken place, and that they are investigating the incident.
We are aware of an incident today at RAF Valley involving a Hawk aircraft. We are investigating the incident.
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) March 20, 2018
The Air Force also called on eyewitnesses to send in photographs of the incident, and urged them not to share images online, given their potential sensitive nature.
North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed that they had been called out to an incident involving an aircraft.
Twitter users have posted photos appearing to show the area near the scene of the accident; a large plume of black smoke can be seen rising into the sky.
Just been sent this photo of the #RedArrow Hawk jet that's crashed at RAF Valley @LBC @GlobalsNewsroom pic.twitter.com/wcdfeHx8E1
— Steve Francis (@steve__francis) March 20, 2018
A witness told the Daily Post that they saw the plane crash into the RAF Valley runway and burst into flames near the Rhosneigr train station. The witness confirmed seeing a parachute.
The team were at RAF Valley preparing for the upcoming display season.
The Red Arrows are a world-famous aerobatics display team hailing from the RAF's Scampton base. Formed in 1965, the unit has become a fixture of summer outdoor events. Since their creation in 1965, the Red Arrows have performed in over 50 countries around the world. The team has 9 pilots and 91 support crew.
The Red Arrows fly BAE Hawk trainer aircraft, a two-seater plane with rocket-assisted ejection seats.
With the worrying news coming out of #rafvalley with regards the @rafredarrows here are 4 photos which sum up why the #redarrows are a #Lincolnshire icon pic.twitter.com/XARQrrs05U
— charles anyan Ⓜ️ (@CharlesAnyan) March 20, 2018
The Red Arrows official Twitter feed has been flooded with well-wishes, users sending their thoughts and prayers and homes that everyone is ok.
