Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Indian Student and Pilot Identified as Victims of Essex Plane Crash
A small airplane with two men inside crashed in a field in England.
One man was a student who had just finished university, and the other was his pilot.
The student had rented the plane for a special celebration flight.
Sadly, the plane came down and both men lost their lives.
Police worked very carefully to find out who they were.
They used special clues, like fingerprints and DNA, to identify the men.
The men had ties to India, and the pilot was of Indian origin.
Police are still trying to understand why the plane crashed.
They are asking anyone with videos or photos of the flight to share them with them.
Essex Police identified 24-year-old Indian student Vamshi Mandala and 26-year-old Indian-origin pilot Dylan Patel as the victims of a fatal plane crash in Ongar on June 30.
The two-seater Cessna crashed shortly after takeoff from North Weald Airfield during a 'short flying experience flight' to celebrate Mandala completing his university studies.
The Essex Coroner's Court was informed that both men died at the scene from multiple injuries.
Formal identification was a complex process using forensic methods including DNA and fingerprints.
Police are working with the UK's Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and appealing for dash-cam, camera, or phone footage from the area.
- Who
- Vamshi Mandala, a 24-year-old Indian student, and Dylan Patel, a 26-year-old pilot of Indian origin
- What
- Their two-seater Cessna crashed shortly after takeoff, killing both men; police formally identified them as the victims
- When
- The crash occurred on June 30; the identification was announced on Thursday
- Where
- Ongar, Essex, in eastern England; the flight departed from North Weald Airfield
- Why
- The flight was meant to celebrate Mandala completing his university studies; the cause of the crash remains under investigation
- Passenger
- Vamshi Mandala, 24, Indian student
- Pilot
- Dylan Patel, 26, of Indian origin
- Aircraft
- Two-seater Cessna
- Crash site
- Field off Mill Lane, Ongar, Essex
- Departure point
- North Weald Airfield
- Date of crash
- June 30
- Cause of death
- Multiple injuries sustained at the scene
- Investigating agencies
- Essex Police and UK Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)