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By TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 08:38 GMT, 30 December 2025 | Updated: 09:10 GMT, 30 December 2025

A pilot is thought to have left a suicide note before his light aircraft crashed into a reservoir in Essex.

Police sources told The Sun that notes were found from the pilot suggesting he intended to take his own life. 

The unnamed pilot 'dive-bombed' the Beagle B121 Pup aircraft into Hanningfield reservoir just after 2pm on Sunday.

He took off from North Weald Airfield, around 20 miles away from the reservoir, at around 11.54am.

The plane was due to travel to Southend Airport and it is believed the pilot was travelling alone.

The coroner has been informed.

Data from FlightRadar24 suggested the aircraft made a rapid descent, losing around 1,800 feet of altitude in a matter of seconds before its final tracking signal was received. 

Data suggests the total flight time was one hour and 23 minutes, during which the pilot circled the reservoir a number of times before it crashed. 

A 'serious incident' has been declared after a light aircraft crashed into a Hanningfield Reservoir, Chelmsford, in Essex, pictured

Flowers pictured at the scene. Police rushed to the body of water just after 2pm on Sunday

The plane was listed for sale with Just Plane Trading Ltd for around £55,000 at the time.

The listing described the aircraft as 'superb in every respect' and a 'joy to fly'.

It read: 'You’d be very lucky to find another one as good as this.'

On Sunday, police rushed to the reservoir and declared a 'serious incident' after reports of the small aircraft falling into the water.

Officers urged members of the public to stay away from the scene as officers investigated the crash. 

Essex Police said on Sunday: 'We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Hanningfield Reservoir, Chelmsford.

'We were alerted shortly after 2pm on Sunday December 28 to reports involving a small aircraft entering the water.

'We are working with several organisations at the scene now and that work will be ongoing.

People are being urged to stay away from the scene as officers investigate the crash (pictured: a police vehicle at the entrance to the reservoir)

'We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.

'An investigation has been launched.'

Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan added: We are still in the early stages of our investigation and are working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Branch to establish what has happened.'