<p>LONDON — British authorities say a Royal Navy jet crashed Thursday morning in a wooded area in southeast England after the two pilots ejected from the plane.</p>
<p>Devon and Cornwall Police said the pilots were being assessed at Derriford Hospital in the city of Plymouth following the crash near the Cornish town of Helston. </p>
<p>“Their injuries are not currently thought to be life-threatening or changing," police said in a statement. </p>
<p>The Ministry of Defense said the pilots are members of the 736 Naval Air Squadron and were on a flight from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, which is not far from the crash site. The squadron uses the Hawk T1 jet, a two-seat training aircraft which is also used by the Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force. </p>
<p>The defense ministry did not provide any explanation for the crash and said it would begin an investigation “in due course.”</p>
<p>Eyewitness Layla Astley said she saw the plane flying low over her house and the two pilots ejecting.</p>
<p>“I watched as their parachutes opened,” she said. “I then saw the plane bank left and over the top of a hill before hearing a very loud bang. There was no smoke or fire.” </p>
<p>Ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker said it was the first Royal Navy ejection in 18 years.</p>
