Lily Mae Fisher named among 3 dead in Devon helicopter crash

Lt lily mae fisher, 31, was named Tuesday among three Royal Navy crew members who died when a Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed during a training exercise near Okehampton in Devon at about 03:45 BST on Wednesday. The other two were Lt Cmdr Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the incident will be investigated by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch. Tributes followed from the Princess of Wales in her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, head of the navy General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Okehampton Merlin Mk4 crash

The helicopter went down during a training exercise, drawing in the Commando Helicopter Force and Joint Aviation Command. Air-Vice-Marshal Lee Turner RAF said the loss of three deeply capable and professional aviators was a cause of profound sadness across both commands.

Turner added: “The loss of three deeply capable and professional aviators during the tragic incident yesterday is the cause of profound sadness across the Joint Aviation Command and the Commando Helicopter Force in particular.” He also said, “They will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with the families and all those affected.”

Commando Helicopter Force

Colonel Will Penkman, the commanding officer of the Commando Helicopter Force, called the crash “a great tragedy” and said: “We lost three members of the CHF family yesterday.” He said the three were “cherished members of the force with bright futures ahead of them, they were all highly committed professionals infused with the Junglie spirit of the force.”

Penkman added: “Their loss leaves a terrible gap in our hearts and my thoughts go out to their family and friends who dearly loved them.” The names put faces to a crash that had already left the force without three members in one incident, while the investigation now moves to the Defence Accident Investigation Branch.