AN RAF jet which crashed on Anglesey was steered to "avoid built-up areas" before its pilots ejected.
A T2 Hawk jet crash-landed near Pencarnisiog shortly after take-off from RAF Valley yesterday, resulting in a major emergency service response.
Its pilots had ejected shortly before the jet's descent.
Gp Capt Gez Currie, RAF Valley station commander, told the BBC that "this is the first time he's experienced this" type of incident in his 30-year career as an air traffic controller.
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He added: "The aircraft would have been aimed in a direction that the pilot believed was open field, in order to avoid built-up areas and anybody on the ground."
"It was a trainee, with a highly experienced instructor on a routine sortie, across the Anglesey area."
A spokesperson for the RAF said: "Both pilots are doing well, they are in extremely good spirits and expected to make a full recovery.
"A formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is now under way and, as a precautionary measure, the RAF has temporarily paused Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 flying operations."
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