The helicopter ditching, the third accident involving the new Merlin aircraft being tested by the Royal Navy and RAF, sparked calls for a full re-appraisal of the project.

The first incident came shortly before 10am when the Merlin helicopter, carrying out trials on sonar equipment from a base at Applecross, Wester Ross, crashed into the sea between mainland Scotland and Skye.

An hour later, an RAF pilot flying solo from RAF Coltishall, Norfolk had to eject from his Jaguar fighter bomber after it apparently flew into a flock of birds over Shieldhill, near Lockerbie.