A criminal investigation has been launched into the deaths of two men in a small aircraft crash following a “short flight experience”.
Vamshi Mandala, 25, from India, and Dylan Patel, 26, died after a two-seat Cessna crashed in a field off Mill Lane, Ongar in Essex, on 30 June having earlier taken off from North Weald airfield around seven miles away.
The plane had been conducting a “short flight experience”, according to Essex Police, with only Mr Mandala and Mr Patel onboard.
Opening an inquest on Thursday, senior coroner for Essex Lincoln Brookes said he had received a request from Essex Police to suspend proceedings pending a criminal investigation running in parallel to a probe by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
Coroner’s officer Deborah Wallace told the hearing at Chelmsford County Hall that Mr Patel, from Southall in London, had been the pilot of the aircraft when it “unexpectedly crashed”.
Post-mortem examinations provisionally found both men died from “multiple injuries”, pending toxicology results, she said.
Addressing those in the court, including family members who had joined remotely, the coroner said the “unexpected deaths of both these young men in such traumatic circumstances can only be described as truly disturbing”.
He added: “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.”
The inquest was adjourned to a date to be set.
After the hearing, police published photographs of both victims and said in a statement: “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.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin, of Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, previously said the “small aircraft took off from North Weald airfield on what was expected to be a short journey”.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) previously confirmed it is investigating the incident and inspectors were at the scene.
A spokesman said: "An accident in Ongar, Essex involving a light aircraft which occurred today (June 30) has been notified to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
"An investigation has been launched and a team of inspectors are on their way to the accident site."
