A Merlin helicopter crashed in a field near Oakhampton in Devon early this morning.
UPDATE: Sadly, the MoD confirmed at lunchtime today that: “three members of the Royal Navy have died during a helicopter training exercise on Wednesday 3 June near Sourton, Devon. 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.”
Images posted online confirm the aircraft involved was a Merlin HC4. The airframe was almost completely destroyed by fire, apart from the tail rotor section. Local residents have reported that they heard three explosions in the early hours of the morning. One witness said he heard the aircraft in difficulty making a “horrendous noise”, moments before the crash, while others reported the helicopter was on fire before it hit the ground.
Royal Navy
— Sky Mango (@skymango_x) June 3, 2026
AgustaWestland #Merlin HC4 (ZJ131)
Crash site near #Sourton, #Devon Aerial images show near-total destruction of the airframe with significant fire damage#MoD yet to confirm crew numbers or casualties
Images: @plymouthplus#RoyalNavy #OSINT pic.twitter.com/04uDa1dJsZ
The 845 and 846 Squadron HC4 ‘Commando Merlin’ helicopters are all based at RNAS Yeovilton. They operate primarily as an amphibious assault and battlefield support helicopter for the UK Commando Force and Royal Marines.
The 3-engined Merlin generally has a very good safety record. The HM2 and HC4 fleets have undergone major upgrades and refurbishments, but the airframes are now ageing. A Merlin HC4 ditched while operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth off Dorset in September 2024, with the loss of the pilot. The board of enquiry report has still not been published.
Our deepest sympathy to the families of those involved and the wider Fleet Air Arm community. Military flying is never routine.
Hope the crew are okay!
I believe 3 fatalities
Fingers crossed.
The maintenance of the Navy is a joke, even the helicopters falling out of the sky.
I guess the government will not replace it.
Hope the crew are not badly hurt.
You don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Have a little respect.
Exactly the lads and lassies that maintain these aircraft rake the fact that lives are at risk everyday VERY VERY SERIOUSLY. So with respect, keep your snide comments to yourself.
Obviously you have access to information the rest of us do not have.
Yes, things are stretched, yes DIP is awaited. But knowing a number of persons that work on HM helo’s things “could be better, but it is not a joke”
The crash records of the Royal Navy ,Coastguard ,Police and Air Accident helicopters appear to be amazingly free of incidents .The last crash I recall was the one involving the police helicopter in Glasgow where the pilot failed simply to operate the fuel supply properly .
The safety record is decent, but there have been a few incidents since the 2013 crash in Glasgow, including one referred to in the article.
Get off here if you can’t show some basic intelligence and respect.
Spot On as ever
Completely out of order matey – show some bloody respect for the dead and injured especially.
Utterly disrespectful.
Are you a maintainer or ex junglie ….no thought not….I am, so pipe down you bag of hot air…..note im being polite….obviously you know more than AAIB ….just engage brain and think about the 3 lost souls .
Firstly, obviously I hope the crew are alright.
Secondly, that’s a valuable airframe lost. The UK needs to fast-track the unmanned AEW solution to release valuable Merlin airframes back for service.
Given that it smells like a Mk4 Junglie, unmanned AEW is not relevant to this particular incident.
Main thing is – obviously – fingers crossed crew are all OK.
It would be a Mk4 given the location and sadly I think some families today have received the very worst news.
I see.
Royal Navy spokesman confirmed it is a Mk4
Sunday Times released a picture of the crash site. Very hard impact. Thoughts with the families.
Yeah unfortunately 3 dead. RIP
Author
Another reminder – if ever one was needed – that all military and naval aviation, especially flying at night, is always dangerous.
So my condolences go out to the families, relatives, friends and colleages of those three service personel whom died serving their country last night.
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
LIke to Add my Condolences to the Families of The 3 Navy Airmen Involved… And the Member of the Armed Forces Who Past Away in Northen Iraq…!
Just Underlines the Dangers Even When Training our Brave Service Men and Women are Under…!
My condolences to all who died in this crash and their families. Just as a point, if this particular aircraft flew over Hinton Blewett yesterday afternoon I’d like to mention that it didn’t sound right, there was a steady dull thumping noise which didn’t sound normal.
Also a Merlin?
Surely even more valuable information to be made available to investigators.
Perhaps those who know on this site can advise. Does the Air Accident Branch/ AAIB run the investigation, or is it military craft means military Board of Inquiry?
Or one, then the other.
Will all Merlins be grounded for a time?
ZJ131 is the crashed airframe, ZJ119 flew over Hinton Blewett at 1pmish yesterday
Very sad news.
If you spend a lot of time around the military you soon realise it is a ‘dangerous place’ to be even in peace.
My condolences go to the families of those three servicemen.
We must not forget that to fly as a helo’s crew is the most dangerous way of military flying: no MB seat and very little chance to survive in a crashdown.
Nevertheless these choppers often save other’s lifes…
These crashes happen in every army/air force in the world and these guys know that when they take off.
Respect.
Tragic loss for the Royal Navy and the families of the deceased.
This sadly also points to the wider issue of having small fleets that need to be worked even harder when airframes are lost and there is little/no hope of replacement.
Very tragic. I was at Culdrose in the mid 70s when a Seaking crashed nearby. The Wrens were given the rest of the day off as one of them was engaged to one of the fatalities. I handled the paperwork and the details were grim.