Devon, United Kingdom: Three Royal Navy personnel were killed after a Merlin Mk4 military helicopter crashed during a training exercise near Sourton Down in Devon, southwest England, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the aircraft went down shortly before 4:00 a.m. local time near the village of Sourton, close to Okehampton on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. Emergency services, including police, fire, ambulance and search-and-rescue teams, were immediately dispatched to the scene following reports of the crash.
According to Devon and Cornwall Police, authorities were alerted at approximately 3:45 a.m. and established a major emergency response around the crash site. Several nearby roads, including sections of the A386 and routes around Sourton Cross, were temporarily closed as rescue and recovery operations took place.
The helicopter involved was identified as a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4, a military variant of the AgustaWestland AW101 operated by the Commando Helicopter Force. The type is primarily used for troop transport, amphibious assault support, logistics operations, search-and-rescue missions and maritime operations. A standard Merlin Mk4 is capable of carrying a crew of up to four personnel and transporting additional troops depending on mission requirements.
Authorities have confirmed that three service members onboard the aircraft died in the accident. The Ministry of Defence has not yet released the identities of the victims, stating that their families have been informed and requested privacy while they receive support from military authorities.
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, expressed his condolences following the tragedy.
“I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crew members onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon,” Jenkins said.
“I know this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”
He also thanked Devon and Cornwall Police and search-and-rescue personnel for their response and confirmed that an investigation into the accident is underway.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Defence said it was “with deep sadness” that it could confirm the deaths of three Royal Navy members during a helicopter training exercise on June 3.
Witnesses living near the crash site described hearing unusual sounds from the aircraft moments before impact.
Eddie Amhof, who lives near the area, told British media that he was awakened by what he described as a “horrendous noise” from a helicopter. He said the aircraft sounded unusually low before the noise suddenly stopped. Moments later, he reported seeing a bright red flash illuminate the sky, followed by a large explosion several minutes later.
Investigators have not commented on those observations and have not identified a cause of the accident.
Several media reports indicated that weather conditions in parts of Devon during the early morning hours included rain, strong winds and reduced visibility. However, authorities have not stated whether weather played any role in the crash.
The wreckage came down near an area frequently used for military training activities. The location lies between the Royal Navy’s principal helicopter bases at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. The surrounding Dartmoor region has regularly been used by the Commando Helicopter Force for training exercises.
Military investigators and defence officials are continuing to examine the wreckage and operational data to establish what caused the helicopter to crash. No official findings have yet been released.
