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| Southend crash: Flights cancelled after airport plane incident | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Smoke rises at Southend Airport after the plane crash | Smoke rises at Southend Airport after the plane crash |
| An aircraft has crashed at London Southend Airport. | An aircraft has crashed at London Southend Airport. |
| Essex Police said it was alerted to a 12-metre plane on fire at the site in Southend-on-Sea shortly before 16:00 BST on Sunday. | Essex Police said it was alerted to a 12-metre plane on fire at the site in Southend-on-Sea shortly before 16:00 BST on Sunday. |
| John Johnson, 40, from Billericay, Essex, was watching planes with his wife and children when he saw a "huge fireball". | John Johnson, 40, from Billericay, Essex, was watching planes with his wife and children when he saw a "huge fireball". |
| The airport confirmed there had been a "serious incident" and the four flights scheduled to leave on Sunday had been cancelled. | The airport confirmed there had been a "serious incident" and the four flights scheduled to leave on Sunday had been cancelled. |
| The airport added it would provide more information "as soon as possible". | The airport added it would provide more information "as soon as possible". |
| The East of England Ambulance Service and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene | The East of England Ambulance Service and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene |
| Mr Johnson was at the airport with his wife and children to watch aircraft activity as "my sons are really into planes". | Mr Johnson was at the airport with his wife and children to watch aircraft activity as "my sons are really into planes". |
| His family waved at the pilots of the aircraft before it went down, he said. | His family waved at the pilots of the aircraft before it went down, he said. |
| "You could see [the pilots] smiling and we all kind of smiled back, the aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take off point, powered up its engines and powered past us, carrying on down the runway," he told the BBC. | "You could see [the pilots] smiling and we all kind of smiled back, the aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take off point, powered up its engines and powered past us, carrying on down the runway," he told the BBC. |
| "It took off in probably three or four seconds. It started to bank heavily to its left. | "It took off in probably three or four seconds. It started to bank heavily to its left. |
| "I said to my wife, that's unusual. We don't find aircraft normally turning at that stage in their ascent. | "I said to my wife, that's unusual. We don't find aircraft normally turning at that stage in their ascent. |
| "Within a few seconds of that, the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball." | "Within a few seconds of that, the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball." |
| He called 999 to report the incident. | He called 999 to report the incident. |
| 'Running towards it' | 'Running towards it' |
| James Philpot was bartending at the Rochford Hundred Golf Club at the time of the crash | James Philpot was bartending at the Rochford Hundred Golf Club at the time of the crash |
| James Philpott, a bartender at the Rochford Hundred Golf Club, had been in a hut in the middle of the course when he felt "a big heatwave". | James Philpott, a bartender at the Rochford Hundred Golf Club, had been in a hut in the middle of the course when he felt "a big heatwave". |
| "I looked up and there was a massive fireball, basically," he said. | "I looked up and there was a massive fireball, basically," he said. |
| "Everyone was just quite shocked… we haven't seen anything like this. | "Everyone was just quite shocked… we haven't seen anything like this. |
| "People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured." | "People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured." |
| People were evacuated from the course due to its close proximity with the crash, but Mr Philpott said some people remained in the clubhouse as it was further away. | People were evacuated from the course due to its close proximity with the crash, but Mr Philpott said some people remained in the clubhouse as it was further away. |
| The chairman of Westcliff Rugby Club, which is near Southend Airport, said people at their club did not end up having to evacuate following the plane crash. | The chairman of Westcliff Rugby Club, which is near Southend Airport, said people at their club did not end up having to evacuate following the plane crash. |
| Pete Jones said: "That didn't happen in the end [police] changed their mind. | Pete Jones said: "That didn't happen in the end [police] changed their mind. |
| "We've got a big event there, 250 people, and they just said no, you don't have to evacuate." | "We've got a big event there, 250 people, and they just said no, you don't have to evacuate." |
| Mr Jones said the aircraft went down about 1,000m from the clubhouse and that people there could see smoke in the aftermath. | Mr Jones said the aircraft went down about 1,000m from the clubhouse and that people there could see smoke in the aftermath. |
| Following the crash all flights from Southend Airport have been cancelled | Following the crash all flights from Southend Airport have been cancelled |
| A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours. | A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours. |
| "We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues." | "We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues." |
| Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the incident at 15:58 and has asked people to avoid the area if possible. | Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the incident at 15:58 and has asked people to avoid the area if possible. |
| A spokesperson said: "Crews from Southend (two), Rayleigh Weir and Basildon (two), along with off-road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended. | A spokesperson said: "Crews from Southend (two), Rayleigh Weir and Basildon (two), along with off-road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended. |
| "We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners." | "We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners." |
| The East of England Ambulance Service said four crews were at the scene including a rapid response vehicle, a hazardous area response vehicle and a senior paramedic | The East of England Ambulance Service said four crews were at the scene including a rapid response vehicle, a hazardous area response vehicle and a senior paramedic |
| The Transport Secretary said her "thoughts are with all those involved" in the Southend Airport crash and that she was receiving "regular updates". | The Transport Secretary said her "thoughts are with all those involved" in the Southend Airport crash and that she was receiving "regular updates". |
| In a post on X, Heidi Alexander said: "I'm aware of the tragic incident at Southend Airport this afternoon. | In a post on X, Heidi Alexander said: "I'm aware of the tragic incident at Southend Airport this afternoon. |
| "My thoughts are with all those involved. | "My thoughts are with all those involved. |
| "The emergency services are on scene and are advising the public to avoid the area where possible. | "The emergency services are on scene and are advising the public to avoid the area where possible. |
| "I am monitoring the situation closely and receiving regular updates." | "I am monitoring the situation closely and receiving regular updates." |
| Earlier in the evening the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh and the Southend City Council's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, said they had been made aware of the incident. | Earlier in the evening the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh and the Southend City Council's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, said they had been made aware of the incident. |
| David Burton-Sampson and Matt Dent posted on X that their thoughts were with those involved and with the emergency services responding to the incident. | David Burton-Sampson and Matt Dent posted on X that their thoughts were with those involved and with the emergency services responding to the incident. |