Plane crashes into Essex reservoir in ‘serious incident’
Flowers laid outside the site following the crash at Hanningfield Reservoir (Picture: EssexLive/BPM Media)
Police declared a ‘serious incident’ after a light aircraft crashed into the water at a reservoir in Essex yesterday.
Flowers have been left at the fence of Hanningfield Reservoir’s surrounding nature reserve, which is closed while officers investigate.
Details of how many people were on board, and if there were any casualties, have not yet been released.
The crash happened just after 2pm on Sunday, at the beauty spot near Chelmsford.
Data from Flightradar24 shows a Beagle B121 Pup aircraft, manufactured in 1970, did not land at its intended destination and its journey instead ended near the middle of the reservoir at 2.03pm.
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The aircraft, manufactured in 1970 and registered as flight G-AZDG, had departed from North Weald Airfield at 11.54am and was travelling to London Southend Airport.
Police at the entrance to Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Park (Picture: EssexLive/BPM Media)
As well as police, a ‘multidisciplinary team’ of Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) inspectors has been deployed to the site.
Waheed Khan, chief superintenden of Essex Police, said: ‘We are still in the early stages of our investigation and are working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) to establish what has happened.’
Essex Wildlife Trust announced the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Discovery Park remains closed.
It said: ‘We are unable to comment further, as this is a police and emergency services matter.
‘We are doing all that we can to support them. We hope to be open again tomorrow, but we will update the public through our website and social media channels when we know more.’
Police at the scene at Hanningfield Reservoir today (Picture: Essex Police)
An AAIB spokesperson said: ‘An accident at Hanningford Reservoir involving an aircraft has been notified to the AAIB.
‘An investigation has been launched, and a multidisciplinary team of inspectors have deployed to the accident site.’
Southend Airport and North Weald Airfield said they are unable to comment on the incident.
Epping Forest District Council, which owns North Weald Airfield but does not operate any of the flights, also declined to comment as it is currently a police matter.
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