Royal Navy Merlin HC4 crashes in Devon, three killed

A Royal Navy AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HC4 crashed near Sourton Down, Devon, on 3 June 2026, killing all three occupants. The aircraft was operating from Yeovilton Royal Naval Air Station during a training exercise.

By Conor McAuley1 min read

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A Royal Navy AgustaWestland AW101 (Merlin HC4), registration ZJ131, crashed at approximately 03:45 local time on 3 June 2026 near Sourton Down, southwest of Okehampton, Devon. The helicopter was operating from Yeovilton Royal Naval Air Station and was en route during a training exercise when the accident occurred.

The aircraft, operated by 846 NAS, Fleet Air Arm, was destroyed in the crash and all three occupants perished. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the identities of the deceased as Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, Lieutenant Lily Mae Fisher, and Petty Officer Owen Green.

The crash site was located in a field near Sourton Down, with aerial images showing near-total destruction of the airframe and significant fire damage. The aircraft had been converted to HC.4 standard in 2018 and was written off following the accident.