Three British Royal Navy personnel were killed when their helicopter crashed during a training mission in southwestern England early Wednesday morning, according to military officials.
The aircraft went down in a field located in Devon County around 4 a.m. local time.
In a statement, the navy’s head General Gwyn Jenkins expressed his sorrow, saying he was “deeply saddened to share the news that three crewmembers onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon.”
Jenkins confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident, with additional details expected to be released at a later time. The cause of the crash remains unknown at this point.
The Merlin Mk4 aircraft typically operates with a four-person crew and has the capacity to transport up to 24 troops. According to the Royal Navy’s official website, these helicopters serve multiple functions including anti-submarine operations, search and rescue missions, cargo transport, and maritime surveillance.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the families of the deceased service members have been notified of the tragedy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the fatalities as “utterly tragic.”
