Three Royal Navy members killed in Devon helicopter crash | Royal Navy
Three members of the Royal Navy have died in a helicopter crash during a training exercise in Devon, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
Emergency services were called to the scene at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, at around 4am on Wednesday.
In a statement, Chief Admiral Gwyn Jenkins said: “I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crew members aboard the Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed near Sourton, Devon, in the early hours of this morning.
“I know this will be a huge shock to everyone in our maritime community and I offer my deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones affected by this tragedy.
“I would like to thank Devon and Cornwall police and search and rescue teams who responded to the incident this morning. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will be provided in due course.”
In a post on social media, the Ministry of Defense added: “It is with deep sadness that we can confirm that three members of the Royal Navy died during a helicopter training exercise near Sourton, Devon, on Wednesday 3 June.
“Families of service personnel have been notified and have requested a grace period before further details are released. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families and friends at this sad time.”
Keir Starmer said the deaths of three staff members were “extremely tragic”.
He said: “My thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of the three members of the Royal Navy who sadly lost their lives this morning. My thanks to the emergency services who responded to this terrible incident.”
Defense secretary John Healey said: “I am devastated by the loss of three service personnel. They served brilliantly and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and those they served with at this incredibly sad time. I thank the emergency services for their response.”
The king, who is head of the armed forces, has a long relationship with the Royal Navy, having served in the force between 1971 and 1976. The king, who is understood to have been aware of the accident and the deaths of the three soldiers, is expected to share his condolences privately with their families.
The site lies between the Royal Navy’s air bases at Yeovilton in Somerset and Culdrose in Cornwall.
The crash site is close to Okehampton war camp, a military facility on the edge of Dartmoor used to train Merlin helicopter crews. commando helicopter force.
A witness told ITV News he heard the engines shut down before seeing a “tremendous red light” when the helicopter crashed.
Eddie Amhof told the broadcaster: “I heard this terrible noise coming from the helicopter, like it was going to jump onto the roof. It was a terrible noise. When I got out of bed and came to the window, it was about half a mile away. And all of a sudden there was no sound at all. The engines weren’t running.”
He added: “As soon as the engines started, there was a very strong flash of red light that lit up the sky. About five to six minutes after that there was a huge bang, an explosion.”
The Merlin helicopter is used primarily for anti-submarine warfare. The aircraft can also be used for search and rescue, cargo transfers and maritime patrol, according to the Royal Navy’s website.
In 2024, a Merlin Mk4 crashed into the Channel during a training exercise. Killing Lieutenant Rhodri Leyshon.
