From Dispatch Room
Three Royal Navy personnel have died after a military helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Devon, southwest England.
The crash involved a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter and occurred in the early hours of Wednesday near Sourton Down, close to Okehampton on the edge of Dartmoor.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 3:45 a.m. local time following reports that the helicopter had gone down during what the Royal Navy described as a training exercise.
In a statement, the Royal Navy confirmed that three service personnel lost their lives in the incident.
“The families of the service personnel have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released,” the statement said.
The Head of the Royal Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, described the incident as a huge shock to the naval community and extended condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased personnel.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also reacted to the tragedy, describing the crash as “utterly tragic,” while Defence Secretary John Healey said he was devastated by the loss.
The Princess of Wales, Catherine, in her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, said she and Prince William were holding the families and friends of the victims “in our hearts at this very difficult time.”
Authorities confirmed that the helicopter involved was a Merlin Mk4 attached to the Commando Helicopter Force based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset.
The Merlin Mk4 is primarily used by the Royal Marines for troop transport, operational support, and military exercises.
Witnesses near the crash scene said they heard unusual mechanical sounds moments before the helicopter flew overhead at very low altitude.
One resident described the aircraft as sounding “not right” before the crash.
Police, firefighters, military officials, and aviation investigators responded to the scene, while the UK Defence Accident Investigation Branch has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash.
The area around north Dartmoor is frequently used for low-level military helicopter training due to its proximity to Royal Navy air bases in Somerset and Cornwall.
The incident marks another serious accident involving the Merlin helicopter fleet in recent years. In September 2024, another Merlin Mk4 ditched into the English Channel during a training exercise, killing a Royal Navy pilot.
Authorities said investigations into Wednesday’s crash remain ongoing.
— Newspot Nigeria
