Tragedy as member of Royal Navy dies after Merlin helicopter crashes in the English Channel
A MEMBER of the Royal Navy has died after a helicopter crashed into the English Channel.
The Merlin helicopter had been carrying a training exercise with HMS Queen Elizabeth off the coast of Dorset last night.
But the chopper crashed into the sea during the exercise, the Ministry of Defence has said.
There were no other fatalities or injuries, it is understood.
A Royal Navy spokesperson says: “It is with great sadness that we must report a member of the Royal Navy has died following a training incident last night.
“Our thoughts are with the family – who have been informed – and all those affected at this sad time. A full investigation will take place.
“The incident involved a Merlin Mk4 helicopter in the English Channel near Dorset that ditched while conducting night flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth.
“There were no other fatalities or serious injuries.”
Three members of crew are understood to have been in the helicopter when it was ditched into the Channel.
Two were taken to hospital, but did not suffer serious injuries.
But the body of the third individual, who has not been named, was later recovered.
Another Merlin helicopter had been in the air at the time as part of the same exercise.
Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry told The Sun: “Well, this is very sad news. It’s always bad when we lose somebody in peacetime, particularly in training.
“I think what it reminds all of us is that military flying, particularly at sea, is not risk free.
“I’ve had a career in naval aviation, and you’re always flying fairly close to the edge.
“The conditions are normally marginal at sea, and of course, if the aircraft actually goes into the sea, the sea is in charge, and all sorts of things that can happen, and that includes death and injury to our service personnel.”
Paying tribute, Sir Keir Starmer added: “Deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy.
“My thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time.
“I pay tribute to HMS Queen Elizabeth ship’s company, particularly those involved in the search and rescue operation.
Defence Secretary John Healey described the news of the death as “dreadful”.
'It reminds us military flying is not risk free', former Rear Admiral says
FORMER Rear Admiral Christopher Parry has described the death of a Royal Navy member in a training exercise as “very sad news”.
He said the death is a reminder that military flying at sea “is not risk free”.
He told The Sun: “Well, this is very sad news. It’s always bad when we lose somebody in peacetime, particularly in training.
“I think what it reminds all of us is that military flying, particularly at sea, is not risk free.
I’ve had a career in naval aviation, and you’re always flying fairly close to the edge.
“The conditions are normally marginal at sea if the aircraft actually goes in, the sea is in charge.
“All sorts of things that can happen, and that includes death and injury to our service personnel.”
The former officer said he had tragically lost colleagues at sea in similar circumstances.
He added: “We don’t know yet what’s happened. The fact of life is, the the aircraft’s gone into the sea.
“Two crew members have survived. One hasn’t tragically, and I’m afraid that is the nature of business at sea.
“It’s not risk free. And certainly in my lifetime I’ve I’ve lost a lot of colleagues at sea, and in similar circumstances.”
Describing the first steps of an investigation into the crash, he said the Navy will seek to recover the aircraft.
Dr Parry, the first Chair of the Government’s Marine Management Organisation, continued: “I think the first thing that will happen is they will seek to recover the aircraft.
“It’s in comparatively shallow water, so it should be able to be picked up reasonably intact.
“That’ll give some indications about whether it’s mechanical failure.
“They’ll take statements from the surviving crew in a Board of Inquiry, and comparisons will be made to similar incidents in the past, to see how it might have happened, and how it can be avoided again in the future.”
On a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth, he said: “Dreadful news. Truly dreadful news.
“I use dreadful because this is what everyone connected to the armed forces, news of personnel in service dying and all my thoughts and the thoughts of those in the wider navy I’ve been with today are with the family, the friends and the close colleagues of the one we’ve lost today.”