A Royal Navy Merlin HC4 crashed in a field near Sourton Down, Devon, at about 4 a.m. on 3 June 2026 during a training exercise, killing all three crew members on board. The Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy confirmed the fatalities and said the families had been informed.
The aircraft was a Fleet Air Arm Merlin HC4/4A, the transport variant used by commando helicopter units for amphibious and assault support. The wreckage was reported to be almost completely destroyed, with only the tail section clearly identifiable in images released after the crash.
The accident occurred in an area used for military helicopter training between RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, near Okehampton Camp on Dartmoor. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause, and no explanation has been given publicly.