Royal Navy crew member dies during training exercise

A Royal Navy soldier was killed during a training exercise in the English Channel on Wednesday evening.

A Merlin Mk4 helicopter made an emergency landing near Dorset during night flight exercises with the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Navy said.

A Royal Navy spokesman said there were no further fatalities or serious injuries.

Defence Secretary John Healey said an investigation into the accident had already begun.

There were three crew members on board the Merlin Mk4, which made an intentional emergency ditching on the water on Wednesday.

Two were rescued and taken to hospital. They are not believed to be seriously injured.

According to the BBC's knowledge, the third crew member to die in the incident was stationed at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset.

At this point another Merlin helicopter was in the air.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy”.

Visiting the destroyer HMS Diamond in Portsmouth, Mr Healey told the BBC: “Today is a day to mourn the loss of a valued naval officer and to think of his family, friends and colleagues.”

“For everyone involved with the armed forces, this is news that fills people with fear.”

First Sea Lord Ben Key said he was “deeply saddened”.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, which also took part in the night flight exercise, is believed to be still operating at sea.

The Mk4 is considered one of the most modern amphibious combat helicopters. It can transport up to 24 soldiers and has three engines.

Where did the incident occur?

The Ministry of Defence has not disclosed the exact location of the helicopter's ditching during the exercise with HMS Queen Elizabeth, but confirmed it was in the English Channel off the coast of Dorset.

Satellite images show that an aircraft carrier was located about 30 kilometers south of the coastal town of Lyme Regis in Dorset around midday on Wednesday.

Ship tracking websites suggest that Britain's second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is in the Mediterranean near Gibraltar, so it is likely that the ship in the channel is the Queen Elizabeth.

What is the Merlin Mk4?

The Mk4 or Mark 4, used by the Royal Marines, is in service worldwide. It is a variant of the Merlin helicopter developed between the UK and Italy.

According to the Royal Navy, it is considered “the world’s most modern amphibious combat helicopter” and can transport up to 24 soldiers.

The last accident involving a Merlin helicopter occurred in Afghanistan in 2010, according to the online news channel Navy Lookout.

The plane, which was being used by the Royal Air Force at the time, made a difficult landing at Camp Bastion, a former British air force base in Helmand province. No one was killed.