Head of Army Sir Mark Carleton-Smith declared ‘missing’ after being dropped in wrong field

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith was at the training ground to boost troops' morale (Picture: British Army)

The head of the British Army was declared “missing in action” after he was dropped in the wrong field in Salisbury, sparking a search. 

Troops rushed to locate General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, a former SAS commander, after he was dropped in the wrong field when visiting a 300 square mile training area on Tuesday evening.

General Carleton-Smith was brought in on a Wildcat helicopter to boost troops’ morale during a military exercise, reports the ForcesCompare website.

He jumped out of the helicopter but soon realised he was lost when there was nobody on the ground to meet him and the helicopter had already flown away.

An anonymous 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."

The General was eventually found by a greeting party.

The Army said he was never actually lost, but was "not where they were expecting him".