Dylan Patel, a 26-year-old from Southall, West London, has been identified as the pilot of a two-seat Cessna aircraft that crashed in a field in Essex, killing him and his passenger. The crash occurred on June 30 in a field off Mill Lane, Ongar, shortly after the plane took off from North Weald airfield, approximately seven miles away.
Essex Police confirmed that the flight was a “short flight experience” and that only Patel and Vamshi Mandala, a 25-year-old from India, were on board. Both men died at the scene. An inquest into their deaths was opened today (August 13) at Chelmsford County Hall, where it was announced that a criminal investigation has been launched into the incident.
Inquest Adjourned Pending Criminal Investigation
Senior coroner for Essex, Lincoln Brookes, stated that Essex Police had requested the suspension of inquest proceedings while the criminal investigation runs in parallel with a probe by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The coroner’s officer, Deborah Wallace, told the hearing that Patel had been piloting the aircraft when it “unexpectedly crashed”.
Post-mortem examinations have provisionally found that both men died from “multiple injuries”, with toxicology results still pending. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be set, as the criminal investigation continues.
Coroner Offers Condolences to Families
Addressing the court, including family members who joined remotely, Coroner Brookes described the deaths as “truly disturbing” and offered his condolences. “I’m sure that their passing has left a huge hole in all of their lives and I offer my deepest condolences to you all,” he said.
After the hearing, Essex Police released photographs of both victims and issued a statement from Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin. “My thoughts, and those of my officers, are with the family and friends of Vamshi and Dylan as they continue to grieve,” Cronin said. “The process of formal identification has been a complex one and one we have carried out with utmost sensitivity.”
Police Seek Answers for Families
Cronin also thanked those who responded to the incident and those involved in the investigation for their work, ensuring the dignity of the victims. “We continue to work in parallel with the Air Accident Investigation Bureau so we can give their families the answers they need about what happened,” he added.
The criminal investigation is ongoing, and the AAIB is conducting its own technical inquiry into the cause of the crash. The families of both men are being supported by specially trained officers as the investigation proceeds.
