Investigators at the jet crash scene

The plane came down on a disused railway track at Dawson Wood, near the A170 between Pickering and Sinnington.

The MoD confirmed the pilot managed to eject and was taken to hospital in Scarborough by air ambulance.

A spokesman said there were no other casualties from the crash on Wednesday.

The Hawk is believed to be based at RAF Valley in north Wales.

Eye witness and local resident Katherine Stevens said: "There was a huge bang and we saw a parachute in the sky.

"The air ambulance was in the field where the parachute came down.

"It was only about five or ten minutes before the emergency services got there.

The pilot ejected from the stricken aircraft

"It's a little bit close for comfort."

A police spokesman said the crash occured on the southern edge of the North York Moors.

He said: "The pilot has confirmed to us that he was alone in the plane.

"He was taken to Scarborough General Hospital in a Sea King helicopter."