1 killed in British air force crash of Red Arrows jet

A jet belonging to the British military's Red Arrows aerobatic team crashed at an air base in Wales, killing an engineer and injuring the pilot, the air force said.

The Royal Air Force confirmed yesterday that there had been an incident involving a Hawk jet, the type used by the Red Arrows. Group Capt. Nick Tucker-Lowe said a Red Arrows engineer had been killed in the "tragic accident" and the pilot was receiving medical care. He didn't disclose the pilot's condition or release the names of the air crew.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was called last afternoon "to reports an aircraft had crashed" at RAF Valley, a training base near Holyhead in north Wales. Video shot by a witness showed black smoke billowing from the airfield.

Another witness, Sian Rebecca Williams, said she saw a parachute open, "and then the plane hit the runway with a bang and a crumbling noise. Then it just burned bright orange and there was smoke everywhere."