I seem to remember while I was still serving, reading about the six Hunters in Airclues. IIRC the article was called "The day the RAF lost".
It suggested that just as the remaining Hunters were getting close to the airfield, a Javelin(?) was taxying out with an external fuel tank on the centre. The front catch failed, the tank partially detached, dragged on the ground and caught fire.
The tower saw this and put out a call to the effect "you are on fire".
One of the Hunters heard this and banged out, meanwhile the Javelin crew spotted the problem themselves and vacated.