Plane Plunges Into Essex Lake

Two people have died after a vintage aircraft crashed into a lake in Essex.

The plane ditched into Ricketts Mere lake in the village of Langford shortly before 1pm on Thursday.

A dive rescue team is on its way to the area and reports suggest two people were on board when the plane ditched into the water.

"Reports from the scene confirm that the aircraft has nose-dived into the lake,'' an Essex Fire service spokesman said.

"Its tail end is approximately 10 feet under water with the nose of the plane pointing down.

The two people on board at the time both died in the crash. Their names have not yet been released.

Assistant divisional officer Dave Barritt said reports suggested three vintage light aircraft were flying in formation over the area before one of them came down in the lake, possibly after clipping a tree.

The aircraft, understood to be a vintage Yak plane, was in the middle of the fishing lake near Ulting Lane, Maldon, which was both "murky'' and deep, he added.

Initial reports suggested it had taken off from North Weald airfield near Epping and was on a practice flight ahead of the Southend Air Show in May.