CHOPPER CRASH
Royal Navy serviceman killed after helicopter crashed into Channel named as family pay tribute to ‘passionate man’
The tragedy occurred during a mission rehearsal on Wednesday
THE Royal Navy serviceman killed after his helicopter crashed into the Channel has been named and pictured for the first time.
Lt Rhodri Leyshon was aboard a Merlin Mk4 which plummeted into the water off the coast of Dorset on Wednesday evening after suffering "double engine failure", said the Ministry of Defence.
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The chopper was conducting mission rehearsals with the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth when the tragedy occurred.
Lt Leyshon's family has paid tribute to a "talented" and 'passionate' man who was "immeasurably loved".
They said in a statement: "Rhod was so immeasurably loved by his parents, siblings, partner, friends and family and he was devoted to them. Our lives will never be the same without him.
"We are all so very proud of the talented, passionate, strong and loyal man he was. We will always have him in our hearts. Our wonderful boy."
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Lt Leyshon was commissioned in 2014 and specialised as a Commando Aviator during his flying training.
'A SHINING LIGHT'
Colonel Mark Johnson, Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force at Yeovilton, said: "It's immensely sad that we lost one of our family.
"Lt Leyshon was a consummate professional and a shining light with a bright future.
"He epitomised our team spirit and his loss leaves a huge hole in all our hearts."
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Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Smith, Commander of Joint Aviation Command, added: "I flew with Lt Leyshon just a few days ago and personally attest to both his professionalism as a pilot and his warmth as a character.
"He will be sorely missed by the Squadron, the Commando Helicopter Force and the wider Joint Aviation Command."
There were three crew members on board at the time of the incident and two of them were rescued and taken to hospital, according to the MoD.
Another Merlin helicopter had been in the air at the time as part of the same exercise.
An investigation into what caused the aircraft to ditch is ongoing.
Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry previously told The Sun: "Well, this is very sad news. It's always bad when we lose somebody in peacetime, particularly in training.
"I think what it reminds all of us is that military flying, particularly at sea, is not risk free.
"I've had a career in naval aviation, and you're always flying fairly close to the edge.
"The conditions are normally marginal at sea, and of course, if the aircraft actually goes into the sea, the sea is in charge, and all sorts of things that can happen, and that includes death and injury to our service personnel."
Paying tribute, Sir Keir Starmer added: "Deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a member of the Royal Navy.
"My thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this painful time.
"I pay tribute to HMS Queen Elizabeth ship’s company, particularly those involved in the search and rescue operation."
Defence Secretary John Healey described the news of the death as “dreadful”.
On a visit to HMS Diamond in Portsmouth, he said: “Dreadful news. Truly dreadful news.
"I use dreadful because this is what everyone connected to the armed forces, news of personnel in service dying and 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."
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First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Ben Key, said in a statement on X: “I am intensely saddened by the tragic loss of one of our Royal Navy personnel, following the incident in the English Channel last night.
“It is a huge shock to us all in the Naval Community, and our thoughts and condolences go out to the family at this time.”
'It reminds us military flying is not risk free', former Rear Admiral says
FORMER Rear Admiral Christopher Parry has described the death of a Royal Navy member in a training exercise as "very sad news".
He said the death is a reminder that military flying at sea "is not risk free".
He told The Sun: "Well, this is very sad news. It's always bad when we lose somebody in peacetime, particularly in training.
"I think what it reminds all of us is that military flying, particularly at sea, is not risk free.
I've had a career in naval aviation, and you're always flying fairly close to the edge.
"The conditions are normally marginal at sea if the aircraft actually goes in, the sea is in charge.
"All sorts of things that can happen, and that includes death and injury to our service personnel."
The former officer said he had tragically lost colleagues at sea in similar circumstances.
He added: "We don't know yet what's happened. The fact of life is, the the aircraft's gone into the sea.
"Two crew members have survived. One hasn't tragically, and I'm afraid that is the nature of business at sea.
"It's not risk free. And certainly in my lifetime I've I've lost a lot of colleagues at sea, and in similar circumstances."
Describing the first steps of an investigation into the crash, he said the Navy will seek to recover the aircraft.
Dr Parry, the first Chair of the Government's Marine Management Organisation, continued: "I think the first thing that will happen is they will seek to recover the aircraft.
"It's in comparatively shallow water, so it should be able to be picked up reasonably intact.
"That'll give some indications about whether it's mechanical failure.
"They'll take statements from the surviving crew in a Board of Inquiry, and comparisons will be made to similar incidents in the past, to see how it might have happened, and how it can be avoided again in the future."
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