Royal Navy Merlin helicopter crashes in English Channel during training, resulting in one fatality and two injured crew members.

A Royal Navy service member died after a Merlin helicopter ditched in the English Channel during a night training exercise with HMS Queen Elizabeth near Dorset. Two other crew members were rescued and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident prompted condolences from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defense Secretary John Healey, who emphasized the ongoing investigation to determine the cause.