Royal Navy Says Three Crew Members Die in Merlin Helicopter Crash Near Sourton, Devon

Britain’s Royal Navy said three of its members died in a helicopter crash during a training exercise in southwest England, with the helicopter going down in a field in the county of Devon just before 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

“UK Royal Navy says 3 members died in a helicopter crash during a training exercise Britain’s Royal Navy said three of its members died in a helicopter crash earlier in southwest England during a training exercise LONDON -- Britain’s Royal Navy said Wednesday that three of its members died in a helicopter crash earlier in southwest England during a training exercise”

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The MoD said the crash occurred near the village of Sourton in the county of Devon during a helicopter training exercise, and the navy’s head Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins said he was “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.”

ABC News

The Guardian reported emergency services were called to the scene of the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, around 4am on Wednesday, and it said the MoD confirmed the deaths in a social media post.

The BBC said the crew were Lt Cdr Chris Gayson, 42, Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, and it reported they died on board a Merlin Mk4 helicopter that crashed at about 03:45 BST on Wednesday near Okehampton, Devon.

The Independent reported the three Royal Navy service members who died were named as Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, after the Merlin Mk4 crashed into a field at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, just before 4am on Wednesday.

The BBC quoted the MoD’s naming of the crew and said Fisher was on her final assessment of flying training when she was “tragically killed,” adding that she was due to be awarded her Pilot's Wings this month.

Air Data News

The BBC also quoted Air Vice-Marshal Lee Turner RAF, Commander of Joint Aviation Command, saying the “loss of three deeply capable and professional aviators during the tragic incident yesterday is the cause of profound sadness across the Joint Aviation Command and the Commando Helicopter Force in particular.”

In a separate tribute, Col Will Penkman, Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force, called it “a great tragedy” and said, “We lost three members of the CHF family yesterday,” as the military and families paid condolences for the deaths.

The MoD said an investigation is under way and further updates will be provided in due course, after it confirmed the deaths of three Royal Navy members during a helicopter training exercise on Wednesday 3 June near Sourton, Devon.

“A helicopter crash in northwestern England has killed three British naval crew, according to the UK Ministry of Defence”

Al Jazeera

The MoD also said the families of the service personnel have been informed and requested a “period of grace” before further details are released, and the BBC reported that victims’ families had requested the same pause before more information is made public.

The Guardian said the crash scene was close to Okehampton battle camp, a military facility on the edge of Dartmoor used for training Merlin helicopter crew from the commando helicopter force, and it placed the area between the Royal Navy’s airbases at Yeovilton in Somerset and Culdrose in Cornwall.

The BBC reported the three were based at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, and it said the MoD described them as “deeply capable and professional aviators” and “cherished members” of the Commando Helicopter Force as tributes continued.