Overview
- The Hawk T2 crashed into farmland near Afallon Caravan Park after take‑off on 23 September 2026, erupting in a large fireball while both pilots ejected and suffered only minor injuries.
- The Defence Accident Investigation Branch is leading the formal inquiry and unnamed sources in recent coverage have identified a missing fuel cap as a significant line of inquiry without saying it has been proven to be the cause.
- The aircraft was reportedly on a test flight after repairs when the failure occurred and investigators are also considering other faults such as a major engine failure.
- The crash prompted a temporary grounding of the Hawk fleet that was later lifted and has renewed scrutiny of pre‑flight checks, maintenance procedures and ground‑crew accountability at RAF Valley.
- Debris scattered near the caravan park raised local safety concerns and the episode feeds into wider, longer‑running questions about Hawk reliability and support that have prompted senior criticism in the past.