Three British Navy personnel killed in helicopter crash during training exercise in Devon, MOD confirms

Three members of the Royal Navy have died following a helicopter crash during a training exercise in Devon, England. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the tragic incident occurred near Sourton Down in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3.

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It is with deep sadness that we can confirm three members of the Royal Navy have died during a helicopter training exercise on Wednesday, 3 June near Sourton, Devon.

Emergency services were alerted around 3:45 a.m. after reports of a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter going down in a field. The aircraft was participating in a routine training exercise at the time of the crash. The Ministry of Defence expressed deep sadness in a statement on X, confirming the loss of the three crew members.

"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," the ministry stated. The identities of the deceased personnel have not yet been released.

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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.

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy, conveyed his deep sorrow over the news. He acknowledged the shock this would cause within the naval community and extended his deepest condolences to the families and friends impacted by the tragedy. He also thanked Devon and Cornwall Police and the search and rescue teams for their response.

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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.