Two people were killed when a light aircraft crashed into a wheat field near the village of High Ongar in Essex on Tuesday afternoon. The Cessna 152, a two-seater plane, went down around 12:30 p.m., approximately eight minutes after departing North Weald Airfield, located about seven miles from the crash site.

The aircraft had been conducting a “short flight experience,” a trial flight typically available for booking at the airfield, with prices starting from £235. According to data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24, the plane took off at 12:22 p.m., initially heading east before turning back toward North Weald after about five minutes. The tracking information ceased at 12:30 p.m., coinciding with emergency services receiving reports of the crash.

Police responded promptly, establishing a substantial cordon around the scene on Mill Lane and working alongside the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which has deployed inspectors to investigate the incident. The AAIB has not yet released any findings.

Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate confirmed that the two occupants of the aircraft died in the crash. He stated that formal identification of the victims had not yet been completed and emphasized the sensitive and complex nature of the process. Authorities pledged to support the victims’ families and expressed condolences during this difficult period.

“The focus is to establish what happened and provide the families with answers, while ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect,” Cronin said. Detective and forensic teams continued their work at the site overnight.

The aircraft involved had conducted two flights earlier on Tuesday and five flights the previous day. At this stage, the cause of the crash remains unknown, with officials continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy.