Royal Navy member killed in helicopter accident during nighttime training exercise in English Channel

A Royal Navy member has died after a Merlin MK4 helicopter ditched in the English Channel during a nighttime training exercise with the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth off the south coast of England on Wednesday. The helicopter, carrying a crew of three, was performing night flying exercises when the incident occurred. The other two crew members were rescued and taken to a hospital with non-serious injuries.

The sailor's family has been informed about the tragic incident. The Royal Navy expressed its condolences in a statement on X, stating, "It is with great sadness that we must report a member of the Royal Navy has died following a training incident last night." The statement also clarified that a full investigation would take place and that there were no other fatalities or serious injuries.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared his condolences, saying he was "deeply saddened" by the death. He also paid tribute to the crew aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, "particularly those involved in the search and rescue operation."


Defense Secretary John Healey, who was visiting a navy warship in the port of Portsmouth, called the news "dreadful." He added, "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."

The HMS Queen Elizabeth is one of the British navy's two aircraft carriers, alongside HMS Prince of Wales. The Royal Navy uses the Merlin MK4 as an amphibious battlefield helicopter for deploying Royal Marine commandos.

With Agency Inputs