Emergency services have recovered the body of a man from a reservoir in Essex after a small private aircraft crashed into the water.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The tragic event occurred on Sunday afternoon when a three-seater Beagle B121 Pup aircraft entered the water at Hanningfield Reservoir. The plane had taken off from North Weald Airfield and was on a flight to Southend Airport, a journey which had lasted for over an hour before the crash.
It is believed the victim was the sole occupant of the light aircraft. A major search operation was launched immediately following the incident, involving specialist teams from Essex Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Ongoing Investigation and Closure
On Tuesday 30 December 2025, Essex Police issued an update confirming that a body had been recovered from the reservoir. Authorities have stated that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
A file is now being prepared for the coroner. The Hanningfield Reservoir site remains closed to the public while investigations by the AAIB continue. This is standard procedure following an air accident to allow investigators to secure evidence and determine the cause of the crash.
Response and Next Steps
The recovery operation was a coordinated effort between police and air accident investigators. The focus now shifts to the formal investigation process, which will seek to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the aircraft coming down.
The closure of the popular reservoir site is expected to remain in place for some time as the vital investigative work is completed. The community awaits further findings from the official inquiry.
