A Falmouth photographer has shared images of the scene in a field near St Martin.

Kai Greet took the images, which show the emergency services' response to the jet crash.

Image source, Kai Greet

Image source, Kai Greet

A former pilot who broke his back when he ejected from his aircraft has described what happens when pilots eject.

Martin Stoner, from Truro in Cornwall, used to fly Hawk aircraft from RNAS Culdrose and also flew with the Red Arrows.

He said: "You make the decision very quickly once you know the aircraft is crashing and you pull the handle and everything is automatic.

"You end up tumbling down the sky – coming down you know not where.

"You usually get some sort of injury. Face splattered with the explosive. The canopy shatters with an explosive and then the seat fires immediately."

Mr Stoner, who was presented with a Bremont MBI watch as a result of him using the Martin Baker ejection seat, said it was "normal to be taken to hospital" following ejection.

Image source, Bremont

A dog walker said he heard a bang before seeing the crew eject from the jet.

Simon Brown, who was on Bar Beach on the north side of the Helford Passage, said he saw the plane "continue for a bit".

He said: "At first I thought it was an exercise, later the Coastguard helicopter flew over [and] a few minutes later a smaller helicopter.

"What myself and another lady didn't see was any smoke, hence the idea it was an exercise."

The South Western Ambulance Service says it was called to the scene of a jet crash at 09:45 on Thursday and responded by sending land and air crews.

An eyewitness says she saw the pilots eject from the Hawk jet after hearing a "clunk".

Layla Astley said she was leaving her house when she saw and heard the plane directly overhead.

She said: "It was flying lower than usual and there was a clunk which made me continue watching it.

"As it got to the edge of our fields there was a crack and we saw the two pilots eject.

"I watched to make sure the chutes opened and then saw the plane banked left and over the hill when there was a loud bang."

Ms Astely said there was no smoke or fire and she called 999 as soon as she saw the pilots go on.

She added: "[It was] pretty full on, just glad to hear it doesn’t sound like anyone was hurt."

Image source, Richard Cooper/Cornwall in Focus

The jet plane is thought to have gone down in a valley near St Martin on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.

Richard Cooper, who was at the scene, said: "There’s no plane in view, it’s gone through a load of trees and down a valley into a wooded area.

"There's a handful of broken branches. There’s six or seven fire engines and ambulances there."

Mr Cooper said the emergency services on the scene appeared to have the situation under control.

He said: "There was a strong smell of fuel when I first arrived but that's gone now."

The jet which crashed near Helston had suspected engine failure, an MP has said.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said: "They have had suspected engine failure.

"The two pilots have ejected, they have been checked for medical injuries.

"There is nothing more to it than that."

Mr Mercer said they had "had a problem, they've ejected, they've been picked up, we're assessing them and we'll have more information in due course".

The ejection of two pilots from a jet which crashed in Cornwall was the first for 18 years according to the company that makes the ejection seats.

Martin Baker, the firm which manufactures the ejection seats, said the last Royal Navy ejection took place in 2003.

The pilots are understood not to have life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.

Cornwall Air Ambulance says it was called to the scene near Helston and critical care paramedics assessed and treated the two pilots.

Police say two men have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Emergency services remain at the scene.

Image source, Royal Navy

The Royal Navy Hawk jet which crashed in Cornwall is usually used "to provide simulated ship attacks for Royal Navy and NATO units in the run-up to deployment", according to the Ministry of Defence, external.

The Royal Navy website says 736 Naval Air Squadron’s "use their jets to replicate the threats from enemy fighter aircraft and high-speed sea-skimming missiles".

The plane had taken off from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, external which is located just outside Helston on the Lizard Peninsula in west Cornwall.

The base, also known as HMS Seahawk, is one of the largest helicopter bases in Europe and employs 3,000 people.

It is home to the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk 2 helicopters, which carry out anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare as well as troop carrying, casualty evacuation and medium lift and search and rescue duties.

RNAS Culdrose also houses a number of training facilities including engineering and Merlin training facilities and the School of Flight Deck operations, which trains students to manage aircraft movements and tackle aircraft fires.

The MoD has said an investigation into the crash "will begin in due course".

The Royal Navy jet which crashed in Cornwall is believed to have gone down in woodland, according to a local farmer.

Philip Jenkin said he believed the jet had crashed somewhere in Trelowarren woods on the Lizard peninsula near Helston.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the pilots' injuries were not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.

The force said two people had been treated at the scene and would now be taken to hospital.

A Royal Navy jet has crashed near Helston in Cornwall.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said two pilots ejected from the Royal Navy Hawk aircraft.

In a brief statement on Twitter the MoD said both pilots were being checked by medics.

The flight had taken off from the Royal Navy Air Station at Culdrose near Helston.

Bringing you the latest updates after a Royal Navy plane crashed in a wood in Cornwall.

Emergency services are attending reports of a plane crash in Cornwall.

Police said they received reports of an aircraft crashing in the St Martin area of Helston, near RNAS Culdrose.

We'll bring you the latest updates as we get them.