A Royal Navy helicopter crashed into a field in Devon in the early hours of this morning with residents reporting a ‘loud explosion’ and an ‘almighty flash of red’.
Dramatic photographs showed debris scattered across a field at the scene at Sourton Down near Okehampton after emergency services were called at about 4am.
Devon and Cornwall Police officers rushed to the scene along with the fire service which sent seven appliances. It was unclear how many passengers were on board.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs today that it was a ‘deeply worrying time’ for the families of those involved. The cause of the incident remained unknown.
At Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon, Sir Keir said he was ‘aware of a Royal Navy helicopter crash this morning in Devon’, adding: ‘This will be a deeply worrying time for the families and more information will be set out as soon as possible.’
The site of the crash – which shut several roads including the A30 – is between the Royal Navy’s air bases at Yeovilton in Somerset and Culdrose in Cornwall.
It is also close to Okehampton battle camp, a military facility on the edge of Dartmoor used for training Merlin helicopter crews from the Commando Helicopter Force.
Residents who live nearby claimed to have heard a ‘loud explosion’ at about 3.15am. One local told the Daily Mail: ‘Two helicopters last night flew so close to my house that the windows shook and my children were woken by it.
‘Others in the village were also disturbed by it. We semi-regularly have these flights but nothing has been as close or loud or dangerous feeling as last night.’
A drone photo shows the scene of the Royal Navy helicopter crash at Sourton Cross today
A huge fire in the field in Sourton Down after the helicopter came down at about 4am today
Dramatic photographs show debris scattered across the field at the scene at Sourton Down
A mountain rescue team near the crash scene of the Royal Navy helicopter in Sourton Down
Emergency services are on the scene at Sourton Down near Okehampton after the incident
The scene in Sourton Down today after a Royal Navy helicopter crashed in a field at about 4am
Another claimed to have heard a chopper ‘flying very low’. Several road closures were in place around the A386 and A30 Sourton Cross slip and services area.
Witness Eddie Amhof told ITV: ‘By the time I got out of bed and got to the window it sort of moved away a little bit, say half a mile, then all of a sudden no noise at all.
‘The engines was gone and I thought to myself, well that wasn’t long enough for him to disappear out of ear-sight. So the next thing at the same time as the engines went on it, there was this almighty flash of red which lit up the sky.
‘So I assumed from that, worked out obviously that he’d hit the ground. About five to six minutes after that, there was a big bang, an explosion.’
BBC reporter Richard Green told Radio Devon that witnesses claimed to have heard noises sounding like ‘troubled mechanics’ as a helicopter flew over.
He said: ‘A witness I spoke to described it as sounding not right as it flew over his house and it almost took the roof of his house off. He said it sounded like it was clearly in trouble and it sounded like it was mechanically failing.’
The Ministry of Defence did not name the helicopter type, but drone pictures taken at the scene showed the distinctive tail rotor of a Merlin.
The model has a generally good safety record, although in 2024 a Merlin Mk4 ditched while operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth off Dorset with the loss of the pilot.
Merlins have served with the Navy since 2000 and are operated by the Fleet Air Arm, the Navy’s flying part. They are used in anti-submarine and troop-carrying missions.
A mountain rescue team near the crash scene of the Royal Navy helicopter in Sourton Down
The scene on the A30 today which is closed near Okehampton in Devon after the crash
A mountain rescue team near the crash scene of the Royal Navy helicopter in Sourton Down
Road closures are in place around the A386 and A30 Sourton Cross slip and services area
A file photograph of Merlin helicopter, a model which has a generally good safety record
A Merlin usually flies with a crew of three or four, depending on the mission, and the type of helicopter has seen active service in Afghanistan.
The specific helicopter involved is thought to be an Agusta Westland Merlin. This model can carry up to three crew and 24 fully-laden troops.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: ‘Police were notified at approximately 3.45am this morning, June 3, following reports of a crash involving a Royal Navy helicopter in a field at Sourton Down, near Okehampton in Devon.
‘The incident resulted in a multi-agency response with emergency services still on scene. The Ministry of Defence are also in attendance.
‘Several road closures remain in place in the area, including around the A386 and at the A30 Sourton Cross slip road and services area. Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and seek alternative routes. Our enquiries remain ongoing at the scene.’
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ‘An incident occurred involving a Royal Navy helicopter just before 4am on June 3 near Sourton, Devon. An investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.’
And a Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service statement said: ‘Seven fire appliances from six stations, including one from Cornwall, were mobilised to an incident involving a military helicopter at Sourton Down in the early hours of this morning.
‘Crews worked to extinguish the fire in the field adjacent to the A30 and supported the wider multi-agency response. Several specialist resources were also deployed, including an Environmental Protection Unit, Welfare Unit, Command Unit and an Urban Search and Rescue team. One appliance remains at the scene.’
The Mail has also contacted South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for a statement on the incident.
