Body Recovered from Essex Plane Crash in Reservoir

Essex Police have recovered the body of a man believed to be the sole occupant of a small aircraft that crashed into Hanningfield Reservoir near Chelmsford on December 28. The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., prompted a major emergency response and an ongoing investigation into the cause.

The Beagle B121 Pup, a light aircraft manufactured in 1970 and registered as G-AZDG, departed from North Weald Airfield at 11:54 a.m. that Sunday, en route to London Southend Airport. Flight tracking data indicated the plane's journey ended abruptly near the middle of the reservoir at 2:03 p.m., with no further signal after entering the water. Authorities have not yet determined the reason for the crash, and no suspicious circumstances have been identified.

Emergency services, including Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews, air ambulances, and HM Coastguard teams, rushed to the scene shortly after the alert. A multidisciplinary team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch joined Essex Police in the search efforts, which extended into the evening of December 29. Divers from the Metropolitan Police Service, supported by sonar equipment, scanned the reservoir floor after...