LONDON, Aug 14: British police have formally identified a 24-year-old Indian student and a 26-year-old Indian-origin pilot as the two victims of a fatal two-seater aircraft crash in Essex, eastern England, on June 30.
Essex Police said the victims were passenger Vamshi Mandala and pilot Dylan Patel, who were aboard a Cessna aircraft that crashed in Ongar shortly after taking off from North Weald Airfield.
Mandala had chartered the aircraft for a short flying experience to celebrate completing his university studies.
Detectives said the formal identification process was complex and was conducted with the utmost sensitivity. Essex Police Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin expressed condolences to the families and friends of both victims.
Police said they are continuing their investigation alongside the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to establish the circumstances that led to the crash and provide answers to the victims’ families.
The Essex Coroner’s Court was informed that both men died at the scene from multiple injuries. Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes described the incident as a tragic loss of two young lives and extended his condolences to their families.
The identification process was conducted through the Disaster Victim Identification procedure, led by the coroner’s office with support from emergency services and the AAIB. Experts used forensic methods, including DNA and fingerprint analysis, to formally establish the identities.
Last month, Essex Police and the AAIB completed a detailed three-day search of the crash site near Mill Lane. The aircraft was subsequently dismantled and removed from the site to assist with the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash.
Police have appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or captured relevant footage. Officers have particularly urged motorists in the area at the time of the crash to check their dashcam recordings, while anyone with mobile phone or camera footage has also been asked to come forward.
The coroner has suspended proceedings pending the outcome of the police investigation.
