King Charles issues tribute to Royal Navy helicopter crew killed in crash

King Charles has said he was profoundly shocked by the fatal Royal Navy helicopter crash that claimed three lives in Devon earlier this week.The monarch addressed the tragedy publicly for the first time while presenting new colours to Royal Marines Commando units at Windsor Castle.During the ceremony, the King stated that the service of those who perished was held in the highest regard.The Merlin Mk4 helicopter went down at approximately 03:45 BST on Wednesday near Okehampton during a training exercise.All three crew members, who were stationed at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, lost their lives in the incident. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the identities of the three personnel who died in the crash.Lt Cdr Chris Gayson, aged 42, was among those killed alongside Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24.Fisher held the distinction of being Britain's sole female Royal Navy commando currently serving.The MoD revealed that Fisher was undertaking her final flying assessment when the tragedy occurred, with her Pilot's Wings due to be awarded this month.Her family described her as an extraordinary woman, while Gayson's relatives said he was an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly.Green's family paid tribute to him as a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner.In a previous BBC interview, Fisher spoke of the real honour of wearing the beret, noting: It was 'you earn your green beret the same as everybody else, you carry the same kit as everybody else, you pass the test the same as everybody else'.Her family said: To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.Gayson embarked on his Royal Navy career in September 2008 as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer, having completed a Masters in aerospace engineering at the University of Bath.His service with 845 Naval Air Squadron saw him fly Sea King Mk4 helicopters across Norway, Jordan and Afghanistan, as well as on maritime vessel operations.By July 2025, he had risen to Operational Conversion Flight Commander on 846 Naval Air Squadron, where the MoD said his leadership was exemplary.Green enlisted in 2022, initially serving as an aircrewman before earning his Aircrewman Wings in June 2025 and developing expertise in Arctic operations.His family expressed their devastation, saying: His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken.They added: We are so proud of him achieving his life's goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona's lives.Defence Secretary John Healey called the losses devastating, stating the three embodied the best of our Armed Forces.The Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and General Sir Gwyn Jenkins also offered tributes following Wednesday's crash.The Defence Accident Investigation Branch will conduct the inquiry into the incident. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter