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Image source, UK MOD

Defence Secretary John Healey has said that an investigation into a helicopter incident over the English Channel has already begun, hours after it was announced by the Royal Navy that a member had died.

We're going to be ending our live coverage, but you'll be able to continue monitoring developments on this incident throughout the evening in this article.

Here's what we know so far:

• A Royal Navy service member died when a helicopter ditched in the English Channel near Dorset
• It happened at around 20:45 BST on Wednesday and involved a Merlin Mk4 that was performing a night training exercise with the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier
• Two other crew members onboard avoided serious injury and were rescued
• The deceased person hasn't been named, but the ´óÏó´«Ã½ understands they were based at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the Navy member's death, while Healey says it was "truly dreadful news"
• The head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Ben Key, adds that he was "intensely saddened by the tragic loss"

This page was edited by Johanna Chisholm and Barbara Tasch. It was written by Emily Atkinson, Hollie Cole, Seher Asaf, Lana Lam, Gabriela Boccaccio and Jake Lapham.

Tracking the last movements of the Merlin Mk4 helicopterpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 5 September

17:07 BST 5 September

By Emma Pengelly and Josh Cheetham

´óÏó´«Ã½ Verify has been analysing the last movements of the helicopter before it ditched into the English Channel.

Using data available on the aircraft tracking site ADS-B Exchange, we can see there were two Merlin helicopters operating off the coast of Lyme Regis last night.

Shortly after 20:45 BST, one of the Merlins disappears from the tracking map and we don’t see it again.

A couple of minutes later the other Merlin appears on the map and operates in the same area for several minutes before also disappearing.

If military aircraft do not want to be seen, often they will turn off their publicly-available tracking system. This is commonplace during military exercises, or when aircraft enter areas of hostility.

ADS-B Exchange does not detect any other activity at the site until roughly half an hour later when a coastguard helicopter arrives, before heading towards and landing at Portland at around 21:50 BST.

At this point, the other Merlin at sea flies inland and finishes its journey in Yeovilton.

The Navy said the night flying exercises taking place last night were in coordination with HMS Queen Elizabeth. We have found a recent satellite image, captured at 12:21 BST yesterday, which shows an aircraft carrier in a similar area around 22km (13 miles) off the Dorset coast.

Navy member who died in helicopter incident was based at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ understands.

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, more commonly known as as RNAS Yeovilton, is a base in Somerset that covers a large area and is broken up into two parts: one in Yeovilton and another in Ilton (Merryfield).

Defence Secretary John Healey says a full investigation into the incident involving a Merlin Mk4 helicopter has already begun.

He tells the ´óÏó´«Ã½ during a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth that the investigation is the "first priority" for the head of the Royal Navy.

"Today is a day to mourn the loss of a valued Navy personnel and to think about his family, his friends and his colleagues," Healey adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the Royal Navy, says he is "intensely saddened by the tragic loss" of a Royal Navy member.

In a post on X, the First Sea Lord writes that the death is a "huge shock to us all in the naval community and our thoughts and condolences go out to the family at this time".

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent

We now know the helicopter ditched into the English Channel yesterday evening around 20:45 BST.

It's not unusual for the Royal Navy to conduct exercises at night – because aircrew need to be qualified to fly both day and night time missions.

We know that there were two Royal Navy Merlin helicopters in the air at the time – when one of them ditched. Two Air Sea Rescue helicopters joined in the recovery operation.

An investigation into what caused the crash will have already begun – led by the military.

The initial report to establish what caused the helicopter to ditch could still take months.

Update at 16:40 BST: This post has been updated to change the time the helicopter ditched into the English Channel, from 19:45 BST to 20:45 BST.

While we still don't know a great deal about the circumstances surrounding last night's incident, we do know the Merlin Mk4 "ditched" in the English Channel.

For context, a ditching is not the same as a crash - so let us explain.

In a from 2022, the UK Civil Aviation Authority describes ditching as "a deliberate emergency landing on water".

The authority adds that it is not an "uncontrolled impact".

Image source, PA Media

In the statement from the Royal Navy we brought you earlier, we learned that the Merlin Mk4 helicopter involved in this incident was conducting a night flying exercise with HMS Queen Elizabeth.

We don't know the specifics of the exercise, but the HMS Queen Elizabeth is an aircraft carrier that was launched in 2014.

A maximum of 1,600 crew can be onboard the ship, which is "the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy", according to its website.

The flight deck is roughly the size of three football pitches and can carry 40 aircraft.

Image source, UK MOD

Some more details now about the Merlin Mk4 helicopter, which is the model the British Navy says ditched last night during training exercises.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) handed 25 helicopters to the Royal Navy in 2016.

The helicopters served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan where they were used to transport troops, supplies and civilians. The fleet was then sent to the Navy to replace its Sea King fleet.

The Royal Navy has two types of Merlin helicopters: the mark-2 (Mk2) and the mark-4 (Mk4).

The Mk2 is primarily an anti-submarine warfare, according to the Royal Navy, but can also be used for search and rescue operations, cargo transfers and maritime patrol, while the Mk4 features several modifications for use by the Royal Marines.

The Merlin helicopter can fly at a speed of 160 knots (184mph/296km/h) and travel 750 nautical miles.

Image source, PA

Defence Secretary John Healey has also recently offered his condolences saying it's "truly dreadful news".

He tells media while on a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth that he uses the word "dreadful" intentionally, as this "is what everyone connected to the armed forces" will be feeling when hearing of the Navy member's death.

"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."

In a , he adds that there will be a "full investigation" into how the incident happened.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is "deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy".

On X, he writes "my thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time" and pays tribute to the HMS Queen Elizabeth's company, "particularly those involved in the search and rescue operation".

• One person has died after a Royal Navy helicopter ditched in the English Channel near Dorset
• They died while conducting night flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth, a navy spokesperson says
• The person who died has not been named

• There were three crew members onboard the Merlin Mk4 helicopter at the time of the incident - two were rescued and taken to hospital
• There were no other fatalities or serious injuries
• A second helicopter was taking part in the same exercise
• HM Coastguard assisted in the rescue operation
• The navy says a full investigation will take place

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent

There was another Merlin helicopter in the air at the time, taking part in the same night flying exercises.

HM Coastguard assisted in the rescue operation.

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent

There were three crew members onboard the Merlin helicopter at the time of the incident - two of those were rescued and taken to hospital.

It's understood that they did not suffer serious injuries.

The third crew member, whose body was recovered, has not yet been named.

We're now getting more information on this incident - the helicopter ditched while conducting night flying exercises with HMS Queen Elizabeth, a spokesperson for the Royal Navy says.

The incident involved a Merlin Mk4 helicopter.

There were no other fatalities or serious injuries.

One person has died after a Royal Navy helicopter ditched in the English Channel near Dorset last night.

A Royal Navy spokesperson says: “It is with great sadness that we must report a member of the Royal Navy has died following a training incident last night.

"Our thoughts are with the family - who have been informed - and all those affected at this sad time. A full investigation will take place."

This is a developing story, we'll have more details on this shortly.