Pilot crashes Beagle aircraft into Hanningfield Reservoir after take‑off from North Weald
On 28 December 2025 a Beagle B121 Series 2 (registration G‑AZDG) took off from North Weald Airport in Essex for a local flight and entered a steep descent before striking the water of Hanningfield Reservoir, killing the pilot.1,2
Investigators determined the pilot had been dealing with mental health issues and sleep difficulties for several weeks and likely deliberately flew the aircraft into the reservoir, according to the AAIB report.1,2