Three Royal Navy Personnel Killed in Helicopter Crash Near Sourton Down

A Royal Navy helicopter crashed in a field near Sourton Down in central Devon in the early hours of 3 June 2026, killing three personnel. The Ministry of Defence identified the victims as Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24. The Civil Aviation Authority said the Defence Accident Investigation Branch will examine the incident.

Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson joined the Royal Navy in 2008 after studying aerospace engineering. He flew Sea King helicopters on operations in Norway, Jordan and Afghanistan before moving into air safety and later instructor roles. He had recently taken command of the Operational Conversion Flight on 846 Naval Air Squadron.

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher grew up in Virginia Water, Surrey. After earning a master's in geology from Imperial College London she worked at British Petroleum before commissioning into the Royal Navy in 2019. She became Britain's only serving female Royal Navy Commando and joined 846 Naval Air Squadron in 2025.

Petty Officer Owen Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022. He completed aircrew training at RNAS Yeovilton, RAF Shawbury and RNAS Culdrose, earned his Aircrewman Wings in June 2025 and logged the highest flying hours in his squadron during Operation Clockwork 26 in Arctic conditions.

Commander of Joint Aviation Command Air Vice-Marshal Lee Turner said the loss of three capable aviators caused profound sadness across the Joint Aviation Command and the Commando Helicopter Force.

Commanding Officer of the Commando Helicopter Force Colonel Will Penkman described the deaths as a great tragedy and said the three had been cherished members of the force. Defence Secretary John Healey called the loss devastating and said the three had embodied the best of the Armed Forces.

The King and the Princess of Wales also released statements.