Police have confirmed the recovery of a man's body from an Essex reservoir, following the crash of a small aircraft earlier this week.
Multi-Agency Search Concludes at Reservoir
Essex Police provided an update on Tuesday, 30 December, stating that continuing work at Hanningfield Reservoir had resulted in the discovery of a body. The force had been working alongside specialists from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and divers from the Metropolitan Police Service to locate the aircraft, which came down on Sunday, 28 December.
Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan acknowledged the tragic loss of life, stating: “I would firstly like to recognise that someone has lost their life in tragic circumstances. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this incident.”
Sonar Technology Pinpoints Debris and Victim
The intensive search operation, which continued late into Monday evening, utilised sonar equipment to methodically scan the reservoir floor. Investigators had first identified the specific area where they believed the aircraft entered the water.
This detailed underwater search led to the discovery of aircraft debris and, crucially, the body of the victim. Chief Supt Khan confirmed: “We believe this is the body of the sole occupant of the aircraft and our search activity has therefore concluded.”
Formal Identification and Next Steps
Officers stated that work to formally identify the man will now be undertaken sensitively with HM Coroner. Police emphasised that it would not be right to officially confirm his identity until this procedure is followed.
As a result of the investigation, a file is being prepared for the coroner. Responsibility for the reservoir site and any further recovery work will now pass back to its owners.
Chief Supt Khan thanked the public for their patience, praising the highly-detailed work carried out by specialists from across multiple agencies which brought the complex search to its conclusion.
