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‘Serious incident’ at Southend airport after small plane crashes ‘Serious incident’ at Southend airport after small plane crashes
(32 minutes later)
Emergency services at the scene after Beechcraft B200 aircraft involved in collision at about 4pm on SundayEmergency services at the scene after Beechcraft B200 aircraft involved in collision at about 4pm on Sunday
A small passenger plane has crashed after taking off in Essex.A small passenger plane has crashed after taking off in Essex.
The Beechcraft B200 aircraft crashed at about 4pm on Sunday, soon after taking off from Southend airport, and was seen in flames with dark smoke billowing from it, according to photos circulating on social media.The Beechcraft B200 aircraft crashed at about 4pm on Sunday, soon after taking off from Southend airport, and was seen in flames with dark smoke billowing from it, according to photos circulating on social media.
Essex police said they were at the scene of a serious incident.Essex police said they were at the scene of a serious incident.
A statement from the force said: “We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane. We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours.A statement from the force said: “We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane. 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 four crews along with off-road vehicles had attended the incident.Essex County fire and rescue service said four crews along with off-road vehicles had attended the incident.
The East of England ambulance service said four ambulances and four hazardous area response team vehicles were at the scene in addition to an air ambulance.The East of England ambulance service said four ambulances and four hazardous area response team vehicles were at the scene in addition to an air ambulance.
The cause of the crash is not yet known.The cause of the crash is not yet known.
According to the flight-tracking service Flightradar24, the plane took off at 3.48pm and was bound for Lelystad, a city in the Netherlands.According to the flight-tracking service Flightradar24, the plane took off at 3.48pm and was bound for Lelystad, a city in the Netherlands.
The aircraft, operated by Zeusch Aviation, was equipped with medical systems for transporting patients. The Dutch company specialises in medical evacuations and transplant flights and also runs private charters.The aircraft, operated by Zeusch Aviation, was equipped with medical systems for transporting patients. The Dutch company specialises in medical evacuations and transplant flights and also runs private charters.
It is unclear whether the flight from Southend was a medical evacuation or whether any patient was onboard at the time of the crash.It is unclear whether the flight from Southend was a medical evacuation or whether any patient was onboard at the time of the crash.
ESN Report wrote on X: “Just witnessed a Beechcraft crash on takeoff at Southend airport about 40 minutes after a Cessna also left the runway. Thoughts are with those on the aircraft. Absolutely tragic. Was waving to the aircrew just moments before.”ESN Report wrote on X: “Just witnessed a Beechcraft crash on takeoff at Southend airport about 40 minutes after a Cessna also left the runway. Thoughts are with those on the aircraft. Absolutely tragic. Was waving to the aircrew just moments before.”
David Burton-Sampson, the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, posted on X: “I am aware of an incident at Southend airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone involved.”David Burton-Sampson, the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, posted on X: “I am aware of an incident at Southend airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone involved.”
Police said they were evacuating the Rochford Hundred golf club as a precaution because of their proximity to the incident.Police said they were evacuating the Rochford Hundred golf club as a precaution because of their proximity to the incident.
Four flights scheduled to take off from the airport on Sunday afternoon had been cancelled, according to its website.Four flights scheduled to take off from the airport on Sunday afternoon had been cancelled, according to its website.
EasyJet said all of its flights to and from Southend had been “diverted to alternative airports or are no longer able to operate”.
The airline added it had contacted customers who were due to travel on Sunday. Anyone due to fly on Monday should check online for up-to-date information, it said.
Southend airport said: “We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft.Southend airport said: “We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft.
“We are working closely with the local authorities and will be able to provide more information as soon as possible.”“We are working closely with the local authorities and will be able to provide more information as soon as possible.”
John Johnson from Billericay was at Southend airport with his family at the time of the incident. He told PA Media: “We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us. The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its takeoff, departure, powered up, rolled down the runway.John Johnson from Billericay was at Southend airport with his family at the time of the incident. He told PA Media: “We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us. The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its takeoff, departure, powered up, rolled down the runway.
“It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head first into the ground.“It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head first into the ground.
“There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it.”“There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it.”
James Philpott, a bartender at Rochford Hundred golf club, which is next door to Southend airport, told the BBC: “I was just basically in a hut like in the middle of the course and I didn’t even see any plane go down or anything, and I just felt like a big heatwave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky.James Philpott, a bartender at Rochford Hundred golf club, which is next door to Southend airport, told the BBC: “I was just basically in a hut like in the middle of the course and I didn’t even see any plane go down or anything, and I just felt like a big heatwave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky.
“It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like feel like I’m baking.”“It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like feel like I’m baking.”
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said her thoughts were with “all those involved” in the Southend airport crash and that she was receiving regular updates.The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said her thoughts were with “all those involved” in the Southend airport crash and that she was receiving regular updates.
In a post on X, she said: “I’m aware of the tragic incident at Southend airport this afternoon.In a post on X, she said: “I’m aware of the tragic incident at Southend airport this afternoon.
“My thoughts are with all those involved. 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.”“My thoughts are with all those involved. 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.”