A British Royal Navy jet has crashed into a field in Cornwall right after two trainee pilots were ejected to safety.
According to reports, the British Royal Navy Jet crashed on
Thursday morning near the Lizard Peninsula, roughly 10 miles from RNAS Culdrose, where the Royal Navy Hawk came from.
Cornwall Air Ambulance said it was responding to reports of an ‘aircraft engine failure’ and two people sustaining ‘minor injuries’. It is thought the crash took place during a training exercise and that no one has died.
Local resident Layla Astley tweeted: ‘I saw the plane fly low over our house and then there was a crack as the two pilots ejected. ‘Parachutes open. Plane then banked left and crashed in nearby field. Just hope no one was hurt.’
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson wrote on Twitter: ‘Emergency services are currently in the St Martins area of Helston following reports of a plane crash. ‘Public are asked to avoid the area whilst first responders attend the scene. Updates as we get them.’
‘Two people have been treated by ambulance at the scene and will now be taken to life-threatening injuries are not currently thought to be life threatening or changing.’
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: ‘Two pilots are being checked by medics after ejecting from a Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron during a flight from RNAS Culdrose. ‘An investigation will begin in due course.
We won’t be providing further detail at this time.’ RNAS Culdrose, in Helston, is one of the largest helicopter bases in the UK.
According to reports, this is the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years with the last being Martin-Baker’s 7000th ejection back in 2003.