Three Royal Navy personnel were killed after a Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Devon on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, which belonged to the Commando Helicopter Force of the Royal Marines, went down near Okehampton Battle Camp. Emergency services rushed to the scene following the crash, while investigators launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed that three service members died in the accident.
"The families of the service personnel have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released," the spokesperson said.
The Merlin Mk4 involved in the crash was based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and forms part of the Commando Helicopter Force fleet, which supports Royal Marines operations in the UK and overseas.
Images from the area showed helicopter wreckage scattered across a field near the training site. Emergency responders, Royal Navy personnel and aviation investigators remained at the scene as authorities began examining what caused the aircraft to crash.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the victims, describing the incident as "utterly tragic."
"My thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of the three members of the Royal Navy who sadly lost their lives," he said.
Senior defence officials also expressed condolences following the fatal accident. Defence Secretary John Healey and senior Royal Navy leadership offered support to the families affected by the tragedy.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Officials have not released details about the final moments of the flight, and a formal investigation is underway.
The accident is the latest involving the Merlin helicopter fleet. In October 2000, a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter ditched off the coast of Skye, though all crew members were rescued. Another Merlin crashed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall in March 2004, injuring five personnel but causing no fatalities.
More recently, a Merlin Mk4 ditched in the English Channel during a training exercise in September 2024, resulting in one fatality.
Police, emergency services, military personnel and aviation authorities continue to examine the crash site as investigators work to establish the cause of the Devon helicopter accident.