A helicopter crash near the A30 in Devon brought emergency services to Sourton Down on Wednesday morning, with police closing key routes around Sourton Cross as crews responded to the incident.
The aircraft came down in a field in the rural West Devon area, close to Okehampton, during the early hours of June 3. Devon and Cornwall Police said the incident involved a helicopter and confirmed that several road closures were put in place around the A386, the A30 Sourton Cross slip road and the nearby services area.
Initial reports suggested the crash happened at about 4:30am. By around 5:00am, traffic restrictions were in place as emergency teams worked at the scene. The A386 was closed between Sourton Cross and the A3079 Holsworthy Road at Fowley Cross, affecting drivers travelling north of the A30 and through surrounding routes.
Police said: “Emergency services are at the scene after a crash involving a helicopter in a field at Sourton Down. Several road closures are in place around the A386 and A30 Sourton Cross slip and services area. The incident is ongoing and we will share more updates as we have them.”
The closure caused disruption near one of Devon’s busiest road links. The A30 is a major route connecting Devon and Cornwall, while the A386 is commonly used by local traffic heading towards Okehampton and surrounding communities. Drivers were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes while police and emergency crews remained on site.
Traffic monitoring updates reported that Bowerland Road on the A386 was affected in both directions between the A30 at Sourton Cross and the A3079 at Fowley Cross. National Highways indicated that the disruption was expected to continue into late morning while the emergency response and early investigation took place. Motorists can check the latest official travel information through National Highways travel updates.
The crash site is near Sourton Down, around four miles southwest of Okehampton. Staff at Sourton Cross Service Station reportedly said the services were inaccessible while the emergency operation was under way, adding to the impact on local traffic and passing motorists.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether anyone was injured, how many people were on board the helicopter, or where the aircraft had been travelling from. The type of helicopter and the operator have also not been officially released.
Some residents in the wider area reported hearing a loud bang during the early morning, while others said they heard a helicopter flying low before the incident. Those accounts have not been confirmed by investigators, and officials have not linked them to the cause of the crash.
The cause remains unknown. Aviation incidents are usually examined carefully before any conclusion is reached, with investigators likely to consider the condition of the aircraft, weather, visibility, maintenance records and flight circumstances.
The Devon incident comes after other recent helicopter accidents drew public attention to aviation safety, including a helicopter crash in New Zealand’s Mt Aspiring National Park.
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Police have asked the public to stay away from the affected area while emergency services continue their work. Further details are expected once the scene has been secured and authorities are able to provide confirmed information about injuries, the aircraft and the circumstances of the crash.
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