Overview
- Essex Police recovered a man's body from Hanningfield Reservoir and believe he was the sole occupant of the light aircraft, with formal identification to follow with HM Coroner.
- Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan said sonar scanning located debris and led to the discovery, allowing search operations to conclude after multi‑agency efforts since Sunday.
- The AAIB has deployed inspectors and is working with police on the investigation, while the reservoir nature reserve remains closed and the public are urged to avoid the area.
- Flight‑tracking data reported by media indicates the aircraft was a Beagle B121 Pup that departed North Weald for Southend and entered the water at about 2pm on 28 December.
- Essex and Suffolk Water said supply to customers is unaffected and teams are managing the reservoir to protect water quality and ecology.