An RAF engineer who was killed when the Red Arrows jet he was flying in crashed has been named as 41-year-old Corporal Jonathan Bayliss from Dartford.

Tributes have been flooding in for the engineer who died when the Hawk T1 plane crashed into the air force’s fighter pilot training ground at RAF Valley in Anglesey at 1.30pm on Tuesday (March 20).

Witnesses reported seeing someone eject from the aircraft with a parachute before it smashed into the ground then "burned bright orange".

The pilot of the plane, Flight Lieutenant David Stark, is still receiving treatment for “non-life threatening injuries”.

Colleagues paid tribute to Corporal Bayliss, describing him as “motivating and inspirational”.

He was part of the Red Arrows' group of travelling support engineers, known as the "Circus".

Sergeant Will Allen, leader of the travelling engineers, said: "Jon had the ability to motivate and inspire a team and those around him - no matter the rank, role or person.

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"He was so proud to have been chosen to join the Circus team for 2018 and, in being one of the small group of engineers whose job it was to fly in a Red Arrows jet, had fulfilled a schoolboy dream.

"Jon had a big a presence on the squadron and with his wide, beaming smile, and dry humour, could lighten up any dull moment or lift spirits when needed.

"Both inside and outside of work, he was a generous, kind and caring man who could also always be relied upon.

Corporal Bayliss was born in Dartford and grew up in Hartley, completing a course in engineering management at the University of Greenwich and working at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit before joining the RAF in 2001.

Before becoming a member of the Red Arrows team in January 2016, he worked on squadrons at RAF Coltishall and RAF Coningsby as well as overseas deployments.

As an engineer with the Red Arrows he had supported the team in tours of China, the Middle East and Europe.

In 2017 he worked as a leader of the Red Arrows' dye team - responsible for refilling the jets' smoke systems when they landed.

Squadron leader Richard Bland, senior engineering officer of the Red Arrows, said: "Everyone on the team has a great story about Jon and, without exception, he was known as a top bloke with an infectious smile, cheeky grin and possessing a dry sense of humour that had the ability to fill a room with laughter.

"At the same time, Jon was the ultimate professional and embodiment of excellence."

This morning, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has paid tribute to Corporal Bayliss.

He said:“I am deeply saddened by the news that Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, of the Red Arrows, who was born in Dartford and grew up in Hartley, died yesterday when his aircraft crashed at RAF Valley in Wales.
 

“I am sure everyone in Dartford will want to offer their deepest sympathy to his family at this difficult time and extend to them our gratitude for Corporal Bayliss’ contribution to the RAF both in the UK and abroad.

"The Red Arrows are an iconic British institution, whom the public rightly have a deep affection for.

"We all feel a sense of pride when we watch them fly at so many State occasions and it is a tragedy that Corporal Bayliss has lost his life serving our country.”

A police investigation and a full service inquiry into the crash has been initiated, the Ministry of Defence has said.