A routine training flight turned tragic in the early hours of Wednesday when a Royal Navy Merlin went down on Dartmoor, claiming three lives.

Three Royal Navy personnel have died after a Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Devon.

Emergency services were called to Sourton Down, near Okehampton, at about 03:45 BST after the aircraft came down.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said it was with deep sadness that they could confirm three members of the Royal Navy died during the exercise.

The families of the service personnel have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released. Our thoughts and sympathies are with their families and friends at this sad time, the spokesperson added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as utterly tragic on X, saying his thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of the three members of the Royal Navy who sadly lost their lives.

Head of the navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said he knows this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and offered his deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. He confirmed the helicopter was a Merlin Mk4, which are based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. He also thanked Devon and Cornwall Police and the search and rescue teams who responded to the crash.

Defence Secretary John Healey said he was devastated by the loss of three service personnel.

The Merlin helicopter entered service with the Royal Navy in 1999. There are two versions in use, the Mk2 and Mk4. Merlin Mk2 helicopters are based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall with the Merlin Helicopter Force, which operates 30 Mk2s.

This version is primarily an anti submarine helicopter. Merlin Mk4 helicopters are based at RNAS Yeovilton with the Commando Helicopter Force, which operates 25 Merlin Mk4 helicopters for the Royal Marines.

Military helicopters often train in the area around north Dartmoor, which lies between the air bases at Yeovilton and Culdrose. Witnesses at the scene said they heard noises that sounded like troubled mechanics as a helicopter flew over. One described it as sounding not right as it flew over his house and said it almost took the roof off his home.

The scene is also close to Okehampton battle camp, a military facility on the edge of Dartmoor which has been used for training Merlin helicopter crews from the Commando Helicopter Force.

This is not the first incident involving a Merlin Mk4. In September 2024, a Merlin Mk4 ditched in the Channel during a training exercise, killing Lt Rhodri Leyshon. In March 2004 a Merlin crashed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. Two men were trapped in the aircraft and later flown to hospital. Three other crewmen on board were also hurt. In October 2000, a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter ditched off Skye. Five crew were rescued.

Devon and Somerset Fire Service said seven engines from six stations were dispatched. Several specialist resources were also deployed including an Environmental Protection Unit, Welfare Unit, Command Unit and an Urban Search and Rescue team, a fire service spokesperson said.

The A386 between the A30 at Sourton Down and the A3079 Fowley Cross in Okehampton was closed at about 04:30. The A386 reopened at about 13:30, but National Highways said the eastbound exit slip road of the A30 remained closed. Staff at Sourton Cross Service Station, which is located near the scene, said the services were currently inaccessible.

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