Police have confirmed the recovery of a man's body after a light aircraft crashed into a reservoir in Essex.
Search Operation Concludes at Reservoir
The body was retrieved from Hanningfield Reservoir following an extensive search operation involving multiple agencies. The small plane came down on Sunday, prompting a large-scale response.
Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan of Essex Police addressed the incident, stating: "I would firstly like to recognise that someone has lost their life in tragic circumstances. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected."
Detailed Underwater Search
Officers, supported by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and divers from the Metropolitan Police Service, continued their search late into Monday evening, 29 December.
"Our enquiries pinpointed the specific area we believe the aircraft entered the water," explained Chief Supt Khan. "Using sonar equipment, the teams methodically scanned the reservoir floor. This has resulted in the discovery of debris and, crucially, a body."
The police believe the body is that of the sole occupant of the aircraft. As a result, the search activity has now concluded.
File Prepared for Coroner
Formal identification will be carried out sensitively with HM Coroner. Police stated it would not be right to officially confirm the man's identity until this procedure is followed.
"As a result of further investigative work, we will be preparing a file for the coroner," said Chief Supt Khan. Responsibility for the reservoir and any further recovery work will now pass back to the site owners.
The Chief Superintendent thanked the public for their patience, noting the operation involved "highly-detailed work being carried out by specialists from across multiple agencies."
