‘We’re a danger to ourselves and the public’: Pilots complained about being overworked and of ‘old, ill-equipped’ aircraft before tragic Royal Navy helicopter crash – but face being forced back into the skies
Royal Navy pilots complained about helicopters being “overworked” and “woefully unreliable” before the tragic crash earlier this month, the Daily Mail has revealed.
Instructors also asked for more time to train students before a fatal accident that killed three crew members and destroyed the aging Merlin.
Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson (42), Flight Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher (31) and Petty Officer Owen Green (24) died when their helicopter with call sign ‘Sword 01’ crashed in a field in Somerset on 3 June.
The tragedy was the second at the same Royal Navy unit in three years, after helicopter pilot Lieutenant Rhodri Leyshon died during a training flight in September 2024.
Last night, a tipster from the Royal Naval Air Station said students were being rushed to classes and security was being compromised for the sake of the programme.
According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, while helicopters are constantly breaking down, officers are working longer than their allotted hours to comply with the deadlines set by senior officers.
‘Families deserve to know the truth,’ they said. They push us, they push us until we break. Mistakes are made, and mistakes are fatal.
‘We work hard and we get tired. We pose a danger to ourselves and society. We have families and 4 deaths in 18 months in our group is too many.
Pioneer Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, who had previously passed the All Weapons Commando Course, was due to complete the pilot course immediately after the fatal crash.
Flight instructors had asked for more time to train students before the fatal crash that killed Lieutenant Fisher and two others.
‘Students are not being educated properly. They are being rushed.
‘The fear among pilots is that no one has their back. They are expendable. That the higher ups don’t care about their own people at all.
‘However, they are expected to continue their duties despite the latest accident. It’s not their fault they’re not ready. Security is being compromised and Merlins are woefully unreliable.’
The Daily Mail has learned that the initial investigation into the latest fatal crash ruled out mechanical failure.
This provisional finding is based on examination of the AgustaWestland helicopter’s black box recorder recovered from the scene near Sourton Down, Devon.
All three people on the plane, including the course instructor, died. According to the tipster, Lieutenant Commander Gayson was flying additional sorties to ensure the cadets qualified on schedule.
The tipster said Gayson was an outstanding trainer whose safety concerns were ignored.
Families of the victims receive investigation progress reports. Measures were also taken to relieve the aircraft crew.
Instructor Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson was flying around the clock to ensure the course was completed on time
The crew was completed by 24-year-old Petty Officer Owen Green from Hampshire.
Royal Navy commanders told bereaved relatives via email: ‘The fleet has held a number of engineering and aircrew forums to enable an open and honest discussion about changes we can make to improve our processes. These discussions led to some sudden changes.’
Captain Fisher was undergoing final evaluation of flight training when he was tragically killed. According to defense sources, he would be given pilot wings.
Gayson joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in 2008 and flew in Norway, Jordan and Afghanistan in support of UK commando operations.
At the time of his death, Gayson was an Operational Conversion Flight Commander at 846 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.
The helicopter entered service in 2002. Other Merlins flown by the Royal Navy are of a similar type.
The whistleblower continued: ‘Due to the unreliability of aircraft, courses are falling behind schedule. For many reasons they won’t start and the levels and readings are incorrect. Sorties are canceled every day due to engineering, mechanical or technical problems.
‘Pilots are anxious to return to their duties. They want to see accident reports. Flights will not be possible without sufficient air crew.
‘Since the accident, many complaints have been made about working conditions, particularly flying hours, being forced to fly at certain times and weather conditions so that classes can be finished on time. We had to go up in bad weather conditions on the day of the accident.
‘Previous complaints about planes being out of service and students not being ready to graduate have been dismissed by senior officials. Changes need to be made.’
The Defense Accident Investigation Branch’s initial triage investigation has been completed. The incident will be the subject of a Service Investigation, which may take several months to complete.
The flight of the Merlin Mk4, which was suspended after the accident, was allowed a week later.
Last night the Ministry of Defense said: ‘Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher and PO Owen Green at this extremely difficult time.
‘A Service Inquiry was convened to investigate the Merlin helicopter incident. ‘It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.’
