Overview
- The crash that struck Sourton on Wednesday hit agricultural land, caught fire and destroyed the aircraft, leaving three Royal Navy personnel dead.
- The Ministry of Defence confirmed the fatalities in a brief post on its X page and said families have been informed and asked for privacy.
- Military sources reported the helicopter was a Merlin Mk4, though the MoD has not publicly confirmed the model while the investigation continues.
- A formal inquiry has been opened and investigators have not yet released technical or human-factor findings, so the cause remains unknown.
- Local roads were closed and emergency teams secured the scene, and the outcome of the probe could prompt fleet safety reviews and affect nearby training operations.