A coroner has promised a “full and frank inquiry” into the tragedy of an RAF engineer who died when a Red Arrows jet crashed at an airbase.

Acting North West Wales senior coroner Katie Sutherland said at the start of an inquest at Caernarfon which is expected to last four days :”I will consider during the course of the evidence whether there’s a need for a prevention of future deaths report to be made.”

She warned: "I may need to consider the evidence beyond Friday.”

Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, 41, from Ingham, Lincolnshire, was killed when the Hawk T1 aircraft with him in the rear cockpit had crashed on a runway at RAF Valley, Anglesey, on March 20, 2018.

The pilot, callsign RED 3, intended conducting a practice engine failure after take-off, before flying to RAF Scampton. Pilot, Flight Lt David Stark, who survived after ejecting from the Hawk, will give evidence.

The coroner said the low threshold for Article 2 of the Human Rights Act, protecting life, had been met and there was an arguable breach.

At an earlier pre-inquest hearing Corporal Bayliss’s father Michael Bayliss said there was “systemic failure” by the Ministry of Defence. Another family member said the corporal had been in the plane without the ability to eject himself.

Flight Lt Stark’s lawyer said the pilot hadn’t contravened training, orders or guidance in conducting a manoeuvre, yet there was a tragic outcome.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers said Corporal Bayliss died from inhaling smoke and low-grade head injury.

Squadron Leader Steve Morris, an instructor at Valley and former member of the display team, said in evidence: "The sortie of Flight Lt Stark with Jon wouldn’t happen any more. That has changed.”

Changes have since been made to safety parameters for flying.

Recalling the tragedy, he described noticing a “high angle of bank” for the Hawk, the flash of the ejector seat, and the plane crash in a “ball of flames.” It happened in 12 to 15 seconds.

The inquest continues.

A service inquiry concluded the aircraft had stalled with insufficient height to recover. A number of safety recommendations were made.