Manhunt launched after Head of Army declared 'missing in action' after being dropped in wrong field

A manhunt was launched after the head of the army was declared 'missing in action' after being dropped in the wrong Salisbury field.

General Sir Carleton-Smith, Chief of the General Staff, was “lost” after the Army Wildcat helicopter he was travelling in on Tuesday landed at a site 600 metres away from where he was expected on Salisbury plain.

A defence source told The Daily Telegraph: “There was an ‘Oh s*** moment’ when they realised they had lost the head of the army. His visit was a really big deal and they had everything planned out.

“When they worked out where he was the greeting party raced over to get him."

The Army insisted Sir Mark was never actually lost, cautioning that he was just "not where they were expecting him".

A source said: “The pilot circled overhead and decided to land at an alternative helicopter landing site, around 600 metres away from where they were expecting him to land.

"He was never lost. They knew where he was the whole time.”

According to The Sun a brigade commander who was waiting to meet Sir Mark, who made the visit at dusk in a bid to boost morale among staff, sprinted to where he was waiting after soldiers were unable to reach him by phone due to a mobile black spot.

Over 2,000 troops from 3 UK Div were taking part in Exercise Cerberus to test their war fighting skills. A fellow general told The Sun: "These things happen more than you might realise.

"Mark is a highly accomplished Special Forces operator. He can just look at the stars and navigate to where he needs to be. He is steeped in escape and evasion skills. I am sure he will see the funny side."

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