Two pilots have been injured after an RAF training jet crashed in Wales this afternoon.

The Hawk T2 training aircraft crashed moments after taking off, with witnesses reporting a ‘big bang’ and flames coming from the jet.

Both crew members, understood to be trainees, ejected safely using parachutes.

They are currently being treated for minor injuries, North Wales Police said. 

Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, and heard ‘a big bang’ before it came down near the village of Rhosneigr. 

A video posted to Facebook shows a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter landing in a field close to the incident. 

Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones published a picture on the social media site appearing to show two ejected crew members with parachutes floating to the ground.

‘Hope everyone is ok,’ he wrote. ‘Rhosneigr, big bang, jet on fire out of control and two parachutes??’

The RAF’s Hawk T2 is pictured here during a flight in North Wales in 2018

One eyewitness said they had watched the jet take off and told his wife ‘it’s in trouble as I could see flames’.

He wrote: ‘We watched it climb then as it was parallel with us, it started to pitch up violently twice… then both pilots ejected and the Hawk crashed about a mile away.’

A source told The Telegraph: ‘We’re aware of an incident involving a Hawk jet. We believe the crew was not seriously injured and ejected… we believe this happened within the last hour.’ 

North Wales Police has warned people to avoid the area ‘until further notice’.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Local officers are currently in attendance to reports of an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed.

‘Please avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be issued when appropriate.’ 

RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF’s No 4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain’s next generation of fighter pilots.

The Hawk T2 is built by BAE Systems and have been used to train British pilots since 1976. 

The Daily Mail has contacted RAF Valley and the Ministry of Defence for comment.  

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.