Three Royal Navy crew members died when their helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Devon on Wednesday. The Merlin helicopter came down in a field at Sourton Down near Okehampton during the early hours training mission.

Debris from the aircraft was scattered across the grass field following the crash. The crew included a female pilot, though the identities of the deceased have not been officially released.

Floral tributes have been left at the crash site as investigations into the cause of the accident continue. The Royal Navy has not yet provided details about what led to the crash.

The incident occurred during what was described as a late night training exercise. Emergency services responded to the scene, but all three crew members aboard the aircraft were pronounced dead.

Merlin helicopters are commonly used by the Royal Navy for various operations including search and rescue, transport, and training missions. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.