Royal Navy service member dies after helicopter ditches in English Channel

A member of the Royal Navy has died after a military helicopter ditched in the English Channel Wednesday night.

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.

'Truly dreadful news' - defence secretary

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 post on X, external, 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".