Specialist divers have recovered the body of a man following the crash of a light aircraft into an Essex reservoir, in an incident police are not treating as suspicious.
Search Concludes with Tragic Discovery
Essex Police confirmed that a man's body was found on Tuesday afternoon by divers searching the Hanningfield Reservoir, located between Chelmsford and Billericay. Authorities believe he was the sole occupant of the private aircraft involved in Sunday's serious incident.
The force was initially called to the scene shortly after 2pm on Sunday, 29 December. The aircraft, identified as a Beagle B121 Pup, had departed from North Weald Airfield just before 12pm that same day.
Flight Data Points to Deliberate Descent
According to data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24, the aircraft's final moments involved a rapid descent. The plane lost approximately 1,800 feet of altitude in a matter of seconds before its signal was lost. The total flight time was recorded as one hour and 23 minutes, during which the pilot was seen circling the reservoir multiple times before the crash.
Police sources indicated that notes were found from the pilot suggesting he intended to take his own life. Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan stated: "I would firstly like to recognise that someone has lost their life in tragic circumstances. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this incident."
Multi-Agency Investigation and Aftermath
The search operation involved officers from Essex Police, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), and divers from the Metropolitan Police Service. Using sonar equipment, teams methodically scanned the reservoir floor, leading to the discovery of debris and the body.
Chief Supt Khan confirmed the search had concluded and that a file is being prepared for HM Coroner. Formal identification procedures will now be carried out sensitively. He praised the "highly-detailed work being carried out by specialists from across multiple agencies."
Essex and Suffolk Water confirmed the incident has not impacted the water supply to customers, with teams managing the reservoir to protect water quality and ecology. The aircraft, a Beagle B121 Pup, was reportedly listed for sale for around £55,000 and described in adverts as "superb in every respect" and a "joy to fly."
Officers have reiterated there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the crash.
