'Missing fuel cap' blamed after £20 million RAF jet bursts into flames near caravan park

'Missing fuel cap' blamed after £20 million RAF jet bursts into flames near caravan park The aircraft was in the air for only 20 seconds before it came crashing into farmland - the two pilots managed to direct the aircraft away from buildings before ejecting An RAF jet plummeted to the ground after the fuel cap was reportedly left off, an investigation has found. The two pilots managed to direct the aircraft away from buildings before ejecting RAF Valley in North Wales. The incident involving the Hawk T2, worth £20 million, occurred on September 23 and it is understood that the fuel cap was missing. Blame is now being placed on the ground crew from sources close to the matter. The aircraft ploughed into the earth shortly after taking off from the base on Anglesey. Both pilots successfully parachuted to safety and survived with only minor injuries, while the jet nosedived and exploded into a massive fireball. The aircraft was in the air for only 20 seconds before it came crashing into farmland near Pencarnisiog and the Afallon Caravan Park, in Llanfaelog. While it is unclear whether the cap's absence was the main cause of the crash, the RAF confirmed it was being investigated, explaining: "It would be inappropriate to comment further while this is ongoing." Meanwhile, some sources said they suspected a "major engine failure" was to blame. "One of the first things the crash investigators established was a fuel cap was missing. There are valves built into jet fuel inlets to stop fuel spilling outwards. But it's a pretty poor indicator of standards and could speak of wider problems." said one source. Another source said, "Safety is everything in aviation. This plane should never have taken off without its fuel cap. You have to pray it's a one-off. But if a fuel cap can be left off, what else can be?" Group Captain Gez Currie, station commander at RAF Anglesey, said the pilots steered the aircraft "away from built-up areas" before ejecting. 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." Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton previously criticised the jets in 2003. He said: "We don’t get what we need from Hawk today," before continuing: "We have problems with engines and support. "Frankly, I would like to replace Hawk T2 as soon as we can to deliver a more relevant, more reliable training capacity, so I don’t have to send pilots overseas." The RAF now has a fleet of 26 Hawk 2 jets following the crash.