Three members of the Royal Navy have tragically died after a Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Devon, south-west England. The incident occurred near Sourton Down, close to Okehampton, shortly before dawn. Emergency services were swiftly deployed to the scene, and authorities later confirmed that the aircraft was engaged in a military training operation at the time of the crash.
Royal Navy Confirms Fatalities
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy expressed deep sorrow, stating: "It is with deep sadness that we can confirm three members of the Royal Navy have died during a helicopter training exercise." The families of the deceased have been informed and have requested privacy as they grieve. The spokesperson added: "The families of the service personnel have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released. Our thoughts and sympathies are with their families and friends at this sad time."
Investigation Underway
Police, fire crews, military officials, and aviation authorities were dispatched to the crash site. An investigation into the cause of the accident has commenced. The Merlin Mk4 helicopter is operated by the Royal Marines' Commando Helicopter Force and is widely used for military transport and training missions across the United Kingdom.
UK Leaders Express Condolences
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the incident as "utterly tragic" and extended condolences to the families of the victims. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, also expressed sympathy, saying: "My deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy." Defence Secretary John Healey said he was "devastated" by the loss of the service personnel.
Previous Incident Involving Senator's Plane
In a separate incident, a private aircraft carrying Senator David Jimkuta experienced a technical fault shortly after take-off from Abuja, forcing it to return to the airport. The senator was en route to Kashimbila Airport for official engagements in Taraba state. No injuries were reported.
This article was written by Ezra Ukanwa, Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. Ezra is a Reuters-certified journalist with over five years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos, and previously worked as a senior correspondent at Vanguard Newspapers. He was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).
