Burning wreckage from an RAF fighter jet that crashed in Wales this morning came down just yards from holiday caravans and a family home, according to a local farmer.

Richard Owen, 88, who owns Afallon Caravan Park near Rhosneigr on Anglesey, described the terrifying near miss after debris from the aircraft was scattered across his field.

The Hawk T2, reportedly carrying out its first test flight following repairs, crashed moments after taking off from RAF Valley. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang and saw the jet trailing flames.

The two pilots ejected from the aircraft and were captured parachuting to the ground in dramatic footage. Both were still receiving treatment for injuries this evening.

The RAF has since suspended flights involving its Hawk T1 and T2 aircraft as the investigation into the crash gets under way.

Mr Owen said he was in his kitchen when he heard the first bang, but initially paid little attention to it.

He said: ‘We are on the flight path and there are planes overhead every day. We’re just a couple of miles from the runway.

‘But then I heard a second bang and I saw the fire and flames. It landed just on the other side of the park.

‘I went out to take a look. There were little bits of wreckage all around the site. The tail section must have blown off and landed next to one of the caravans.

‘There was lots of smoke, thick black smoke. I didn’t dare to go too close. I was worried about it exploding.’

Mr Owen said he was relieved that most of the 30 caravans on the site were unoccupied and that the vehicles had suffered little damage.

RAF police arrived about 15 minutes later, but Mr Owen said a helicopter reached the ejected pilots within ‘a minute or two’.

The two crew members, understood to be studying at the No 4 Flying Training School based at RAF Valley, were being treated for minor injuries this afternoon.

A local source said the aircraft had ‘just been repaired after a faulty component’.

They said: ‘This was a test flight and they realised pretty quickly that something was wrong. It was a very lucky escape for all involved.’

The Ministry of Defence declined to say whether the aircraft had been taking part in a test flight.

An RAF spokesperson said: ‘An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is underway and we will not comment further at this time.’

The force added around 7pm: ‘Following an incident involving an RAF Hawk T2 aircraft today, both pilots are receiving medical treatment. Their families are being supported.

‘The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 and T2 operations, as a precautionary measure, whilst investigations are ongoing.’ 

Footage shows the jet jerking violently as it careers through the air before the two servicemen eject simultaneously. Seconds later, the Hawk begins a steady plunge before crashing in a fireball, leaving a huge plume of smoke.

Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones posted a picture on social media appearing to show two ejected crew members parachuting to the ground.

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

Aviation security expert Julian Bray told the Daily Mail it was too soon to know the cause of the crash, but said it ‘had to be pretty serious because both of them bailed out’.

‘Something has gone wrong by the angle of the aircraft in the stalled position,’ he added.

‘It might have flamed out, the engine might have given up. It’s less likely, but it’s possible it was a bird strike. Or a malfunction somewhere – but these aircrafts are looked after like babies.’

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

KEEP READING: Scottie Scheffler’s Wife Meredith Shines in Gold Dress at Presidents Cup

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.’

Another, Pete Bennett, told North Wales Live: ‘I knew straight away that it was in trouble – right on take-off there was an orange flame and as it accelerated it was basically on fire.

‘As it gained altitude the flame disappeared but it was clearly in trouble.

‘It climbed at an aggressive pitch. It pitched twice violently in the air and then there were two clear loud bangs.

‘The pilots ejected and both parachutes opened.’

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

It added: ‘Local officers are 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.

‘Two pilots are being treated for what are thought to be minor injuries, and at this stage there are no reports of any wider damage or injuries.

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

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

A Royal Air Force spokesman said: ‘An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is under way and we will not comment further at this time.’

Mr Bray told us the initial white flash seen in the video as the plane descends is the initiation of the Martin Baker ejector seats, fitted as standard in all Hawk T2s.

‘You can see the aircraft is definitely not right and so the two pilots decided to eject.

‘So what they do is they pull a lever and the rest of it is automatic. There’s a rocket under the seat and the rocket explodes, fires them up into the air as the plane is going quite fast. They have to eject very, very quickly or they will get sliced by the tail fin.’

The Baker seats, made by a British firm, have saved the lives of more than 7,800 service personnel across the globe since development.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting posted on X and said: ‘An investigation is underway. My thoughts are first and foremost with the pilots. We will provide further updates in due course.’ 

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service issued an update on Wednesday afternoon and said the blaze is now ‘under control’. 

A spokesperson said: ‘North Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews and officers attended at an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, working alongside colleagues from Royal Air Force, North Wales Police, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wales Air Ambulance.

‘The fire is now under control.

‘Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while emergency services continue their work safely.’

RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF’s No4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain’s next generation of fighter pilots.

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

It is described by the RAF as a ‘high-performance, two-seat training jet’ designed to ‘simulate front-line combat aircraft like the Typhoon’.

It is used in training to prepare pilots for complex tactical environments.

The entire fleet was briefly grounded in January 2023 amid concerns after a blade failed during an incident on the runway at RAF Valley.

They were allowed to resume operating the following month. 

Leading department store chain Myer has recorded its worst annual loss in almost a decade, as cost-of-living pressures prompted shoppers to rein in their spending.

Despite the setback, Myer is pressing ahead with its transformation strategy and is counting on its reputation as a destination for gifts to improve its performance during the crucial Christmas trading period.

The 126-year-old retailer reported a statutory net loss of $276.5million for fiscal 2026. It was the company’s weakest result since a $486million loss in fiscal 2018 and significantly below the $204.4million loss recorded in fiscal 2025.

Myer attributed the result to the inflationary impact of higher fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, three interest rate increases during 2026, slower household income growth and a softer housing market.

The retailer is also navigating a major transition, seeking to combine its traditional department store operations with a speciality brand portfolio acquired through a recent investment.

‘While the financial outcome for fiscal 2026 is below our expectations, we remain focused on the areas within our control as we continue to execute our strategy,’ executive chair Olivia Wirth told a briefing on Wednesday.

The plan includes expanding its brand offering to appeal to younger shoppers. Ms Wirth highlighted Myer’s loyalty program, noting that half of its members are under 35.

‘We continue to believe it’s the right strategy to create long-term shareholder value,’ she said.

Ms Wirth said Myer would make greater use of technology, including artificial intelligence, during fiscal 2027 while also pursuing further cost reductions.

However, trading during the first eight weeks of the new financial year has been difficult, matching or falling below the conditions seen in the second half of fiscal 2026, when the Middle East war began.

‘We anticipate trading conditions and consumer behaviour will remain volatile over the next 12 months,’ she said.

Myer is now focused on delivering Christmas stock to its 56 stores, with its holiday campaign scheduled to launch in Melbourne next week.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Sydney PE Teacher Accused of Plotting Murder Conspiracy

‘We do perform well during gifting seasons – we are synonymous with gifting,’ Ms Wirth said.

Annual sales, including revenue from in-store concessions, reached $4billion. It was Myer’s strongest sales result, although the figure was only marginally higher on a comparable basis than in fiscal 2025.

Concessions, including brands such as Country Road, generated most of the growth. They were followed by the online marketplace, homewares, women’s fashion and children’s products, while weaker beauty sales offset some of the gains.

Myer’s speciality brands portfolio includes Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Dotti, Jacqui E and Portmans. The retailer acquired the brands from Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments in a scrip deal valued at almost $900million, with Premier also contributing about $80million in cash to Myer.

Myer is continuing to pursue synergies from the acquisition, making the investment a further priority for fiscal 2027.

Mr Lew, who has about a 30 per cent stake in Myer through his private company, will join its board as a non-executive director from Thursday.

The news is timely, after Myer revealed Portmans was struggling, and sales at Dotti, Jacqui E and Jay Jays were broadly stable.

But Just Jeans remains a standout, with sales rising 6 per cent during the year to represent about 40 per cent of apparel brand sales.

There was no final dividend for the 52 weeks ended July 25, after Myer paid a first-half dividend of 1.5 cents, down from 2.5 cents in the prior corresponding half.

Its shares rose 4.3 per cent to 18.2 cents in afternoon trading on Wednesday but are still about 62 per cent lower than a year ago.

– READ MORE: Myer rocked as top executive quits and the 125-year-old department store’s share price plunges 

Celebrity fitness guru Tracy Anderson’s poodles allegedly escaped from her Hamptons property and attacked a 76-year-old neighbor, leaving the woman with severe bleeding and deep puncture wounds to her calf, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Monica Enders told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview that she was taking out the trash from her Sag Harbor home on the night of August 9 when she looked up and saw Anderson’s three hip-height Standard Poodles growling and barking at her.

‘I was facing the dogs but they had me surrounded,’ Enders said, describing the frightening encounter to the Daily Mail.

One of the apricot-colored poodles then ‘darted in so fast’ and clamped onto her leg, she said.

‘I knew immediately it was bad,’ Enders recalled.

After screaming in pain and calling for help, Enders said all three dogs ran back through a hole in the fence and a line of hedges leading onto Anderson’s property.

Enders said she was able to stagger out of her yard before collapsing on a nearby sidewalk. A young woman, whom Enders identified as Anderson’s property caretaker, came to her aid and helped her call 911.

First responders arrived moments later, Enders said, finding her blood-soaked and suffering from two deep bite wounds on her left calf.

Police photographs showed Enders’ beige slacks soaked in blood, while officers documented a ‘deep laceration’ on her left leg.

Although she was injured, Enders said she managed to walk to a waiting ambulance. She told the Daily Mail that she lost consciousness after being placed on the gurney.

When she opened her eyes again, Enders said she was at East Hampton’s emergency medical facility.

According to a police report, Anderson spoke with officers while her neighbor was receiving treatment at the scene.

The 51-year-old fitness star told authorities she had not been home when the incident occurred but returned to ‘see the bite injury herself… she feels badly about what happened,’ according to a separate animal control investigators’ report.

Anderson also said the dogs—identified by investigators as River, Gigi and Mando—were back inside her home and that she did not know how they had escaped, the report states.

East Hampton Animal Control Department officials opened an investigation but were unable to examine the dogs. Court documents state that Anderson and her husband, Christopher Asplundh, left town with the pets the day after the attack.

It remained unclear whether any action would be taken against Anderson’s dogs following the incident.

Animal Control officials had initially considered pursuing a ‘Dangerous Dog Hearing’ under New York’s Agriculture and Markets Laws. In such a proceeding, a judge can determine what measures or restrictions are needed to control an animal, including whether it must be muzzled.

Under the law, euthanizing a dangerous dog is the ultimate step a judge can take.

EXPLORE MORE: Hailey Bieber Wears $68 Tee for Date Night With Justin Bieber

The department, though, decided not to pursue the matter because Enders had initially told authorities she didn’t know which of the three dogs had caused her injuries.

Four days after the attack, Enders offered a written statement to investigators in which she specifically identified the dog that bit her as being apricot-colored.

Enders said she was initially in shock but was clear-minded when she made her signed statement to the investigator August 13.

In court papers, investigators noted that the apricot-colored dog was named River, while the other two – Gigi and Mando – were cream-colored.

Early in the investigation, officials had indicated Anderson was the owner of the dogs. But days later when they opted to draw up charges for the alleged attack, she told investigators that her spouse, a business manager, should be held responsible because the ‘vet records are in his name,’ the court papers state.

Asplundh was arraigned on September 8 on six violations – two for each dog – for the animals being unleashed and unlicensed. Under New York State law, all dogs over four months old are required to be licensed.

He was absent for the arraignment in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court but his attorney was told during the hearing that Asplundh will have to show up in person at some point to deal with the charges.

When told about the alleged unlicensed dog violations, Anderson, according to the investigator’s report, replied that ‘she was unaware what dog licensing was’ – and then ‘asked how to do so.’

The couple, who have five dogs in total, purchased their Sag Harbor home back in 2021, according to Sag Harbor Village records – the same year they got married.

Prior to the dog-biting ordeal, Enders said, the only thing keeping Anderson and Asplundh’s pets – including the poodles, a Cavapoo and Pomsky – in their yard was a hedgerow and a deteriorated stockade fence.

The day after the incident, Enders said, workers were seen installing a wire fence around the perimeter.

She has since retained a Manhattan-based attorney to represent her, though it wasn’t immediately clear if she planned to sue the couple.

The couple’s lawyer, celebrated Hamptons attorney Edward Burke Jr., told the Daily Mail: ‘My clients, Tracy and Chris, are deeply heartbroken by this unfortunate incident, which occurred the day before their long-planned relocation for the school year. 

‘Their absolute priority remains the well-being and recovery of their neighbor.

‘The incident occurred after the dogs became startled, then ran through a hidden hole in the neighbor’s fence that was entirely obscured from our clients’ view. Chris was immediately on the scene, and secured the animals.

‘Our clients took instant action to remove the dogs from the area and have completely repaired the fence to ensure this cannot happen again. 

‘These are loving family dogs, and Tracy and Chris remained in direct contact with their neighbor to offer their full support during her recovery.’

Enders says she never heard from the dog owners directly, though an employee of the owners was in touch.   

Now, a month on from the attack, Enders said she is still recovering from her injuries and is thankful she can still walk.

She added, too, that the scary saga hadn’t diminished her affection for dogs.

‘I love dogs. I still love dogs even after this,’ Enders said.

A female physical education teacher who was granted bail after allegedly acting as a lookout for the gunman responsible for the fatal shooting of a Sydney tradesman has been returned to custody over an alleged plot to murder another person.

Ashleigh Ann Seeney, 28, was arrested on Tuesday evening, more than a week after two men were charged over an alleged plan to kill a member of an organised crime network.

Police allege the target is involved in an internal dispute within the criminal organisation.

Seeney, a teacher at Airds High School, has been charged with conspiracy to murder, participating in a criminal group and failing to disclose the identity of a driver or passenger.

Detective Superintendent Jason Box, commander of Taskforce Falcon, said the alleged murder plot was separate from the continuing conflict between the Alameddine organised crime network and its rival, the Coconut Cartel.

The new arrest came only days after Seeney was detained over her alleged involvement as a getaway driver for the “kill crew” accused of shooting dead Joshua MacDonald, 40, in what police believe may have been a mistaken gangland attack.

Mr MacDonald was shot while walking towards a home on Bruce Street in Merrylands West on the afternoon of September 2.

Seeney was initially charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, participating in a criminal group and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order.

She was granted conditional bail on Saturday and released from custody on Tuesday.

Hours later, however, she was arrested again at Wollongong Police Station over the new allegations.

The latest charges were considered by the Bail Division Court on Wednesday afternoon. Seeney’s barrister, Matthew Ward of Morris Law, argued that bail should remain in place because the new alleged offences were not directly connected to the earlier charges.

Mr Ward also argued against her detention, telling the court that NSW Police had “every opportunity” to charge Seeney while she was already in custody.

The judge ultimately revoked Seeney’s bail and ordered that she remain in custody.

Seeney was not required to appear on screen during Wednesday’s hearing. She was ordered to appear before Parramatta Local Court via audiovisual link on November 19.

The NSW Department of Education has stood her down from her teaching role.

FIND OUT MORE: Love Island Winner’s Girlfriend Jailed Over $2.6m Tax Fraud

The development comes as NSW Police confirmed investigations by Strike Force Haleno are continuing.

They also said Mr MacDonald had no known links to organised crime and was not the intended target.

It is understood he was visiting a house where the occupants are allegedly ‘well known to police for organised crime activity’.

His grieving aunt and uncle, Darlene and Trevor Norton, told Seven News that their nephew died after leaping in front of his best friend Nick Brown and his two young daughters.

‘That’s Joshua all over. If he’d known those kids were in danger, [or if] anyone was in danger, he’d put himself in front [of them],’ Ms Norton said.

She shared a text message from Mr Brown praising his best friend and saying: ‘I am forever grateful for this beautiful soul. He is my children’s and my own guardian angel.’

When Ms Norton first heard the news of her nephew’s shooting, she said she refused to believe it was Mr MacDonald.

‘I thought it was another Joshua. And then I picked up my phone and just missed calls for the night,’ she said.

Ms Norton said her nephew was hardworking and kind-hearted, and recalled their final text exchange on his birthday, just days before the shooting.

‘Happy birthday, Josh. Hope you have a wonderful day. Love you. See you on the 13th of September. Kiss, kiss, kiss,’ she wrote.

His reply read: ‘Thank you. Can’t wait.’

In a separate incident, a day before Mr MacDonald was killed, multiple offenders entered a two-storey home in Glen Alpine, near Campbelltown in south-west Sydney, and killed 23-year-old student Marco Tapia.

He was not known to police and only had a traffic offence on his record.

Two boys, aged 14 and 16, were arrested last week and charged with murder and participating in a criminal group.

– READ MORE: ‘I’m on the hit list in Sydney’s underworld war. This is what I do to stay alive – but getting shot dead is only a matter of time’: Gangland target’s life as a hunted man