Investigators at the jet crash scene

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

The pilot, who is based at RAF Valley in North Wales, ejected and was taken to hospital in Scarborough by air ambulance where he received treatment for minor injuries.

A full investigation has been launched by the RAF but initial inquiries suggest an engine may have failed after being hit by a bird.

Wing Commander Neil Meadows, from RAF Valley, told BBC North Yorkshire: "The bird very unfortunately went straight down the engine intake and caused extensive damage.

"He (the pilot) lost the engine - the Hawk is a single engine aeroplane - and he did try to relight it.

"He tried to fly away but it seems the damage was so great he couldn't and at that point he pointed it in a safe direction.

"He made very sensible and wise decision to eject in time so that he was safe - and so was everyone else."

Huge bang

A local Sinnington resident who witnessed the crash said: "It was a little bit close for comfort."

Katherine Stevens added: "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 air force says the Hawk jet was on a training exercise from RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Investigators from the RAF's board of inquiry were returning to the scene of the crash on Thursday.

Work to clear the wreckage is expected to begin after their inspection.