Three members of the Royal Navy have died in a helicopter crash in Devon during a training exercise, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. The incident occurred at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, at approximately 4am on Wednesday.
The head of the Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, expressed deep sadness, offering condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. He thanked emergency services for their response and confirmed that an investigation is underway.
The MoD stated that the families have been informed and have requested privacy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the deaths as 'utterly tragic', while Defence Secretary John Healey said he was 'devastated' by the loss.
The King and the Princess of Wales also offered their condolences. The crash involved a Merlin Mk4 helicopter, used for rapid troop movement, and occurred near the Okehampton battle camp, a training facility for commando helicopter crews.
