This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/14/southend-plane-crash-essex-casualties-investigation

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Southend plane crash: four people dead, reports say Southend plane crash: four people dead, police confirm
(about 2 hours later)
Airport in Essex remains closed after Beechcraft B200 aircraft was seen in flames at about 4pm on Sunday Victims reported to be the Dutch pilot and co-pilot, a Chilean woman and a European male medical professional
Four people died when a small plane crashed at London Southend airport on Sunday, it has been reported. All four people onboard a small plane that crashed soon after taking off from London Southend airport on Sunday were killed, Essex police have confirmed.
There has been no official confirmation of casualties or the number of people who were onboard the 12-metre plane when it crashed in what witnesses described as a “fireball”. The identities of the people have yet to be revealed but police said they believed all four were foreign nationals. Sky News reported that the victims included a woman from Chile and a male medical professional from an unknown European country. The pilot and co-pilot were reported to be Dutch. The plane was seen in flames with dark smoke billowing from it.
On Monday lunchtime PA news agency said it understood that four people died in the crash. Essex police are due to hold a press conference on Monday afternoon. At a news conference outside the airport, Ch Supt Morgan Cronin, who is leading the investigation into the crash, said: “Shortly after takeoff, it got into difficulty and crashed within the airport boundary. Sadly, we can now confirm that all four people onboard died.
The Beechcraft B200 aircraft crashed at about 4pm, soon after taking off from the airport in Essex. The plane was seen in flames with dark smoke billowing from it, according to witnesses and photos circulating on social media. “We are working to officially confirm their identities. At this stage, we believe all four are foreign nationals. Our detectives and forensic teams are working in parallel with air accident investigators, the Royal Air Force, Essex fire and rescue service and London Southend airport to build an accurate picture of what happened.
The airport has been closed until further notice with dozens of flights cancelled or rescheduled, as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed it had started an inquiry into the crash. “To aid our investigation, the Civil Aviation Authority has put in place a significant air exclusion zone surrounding the crash site. We’re also speaking with dozens of witnesses, some of whom have already provided video footage, and we’d like to thank them for their help.”
A spokesperson said: “A multi-disciplinary team including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering and recorded data arrived at the accident site yesterday afternoon. Inquiries are ongoing today.” Lisa Fitzsimons, a senior inspector at the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.
A statement from Essex police 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. “Our investigation is in parallel to the investigation by Essex police. If there are safety lessons that can be learned, we will make recommendations that aim to prevent a similar accident occurring,” she said
“We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.” “The aircraft involved in the accident was a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air. As part of our investigation, we are liaising with other state investigation authorities. Our focus is on gathering the physical evidence from the accident site and interviewing witnesses.
The East of England ambulance service said that on Sunday it dispatched four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts air ambulance to the scene. Essex county fire and rescue service said four crews along with off-road vehicles attended the incident. “The remains of the aircraft will then be recovered to our facility in Farnborough, Hampshire for further detailed investigation … Our thoughts are with the families and friends of everyone involved.”
The chief executive of Southend airport, Jude Winstanley, said the facility would remained closed until further notice. Dozens of flights have been cancelled or rerouted. Winstanley said affected passengers should contact their airline for advice.
The East of England ambulance service said it dispatched four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts air ambulance to the scene on Sunday. Essex county fire and rescue service said four crews along with off-road vehicles attended the incident.
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.
The airline confirmed its flight SUZ1 had been involved in an accident. The airline confirmed its flight SUZ1 had been involved in an accident. “We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates as more information becomes available,” it said. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.”
“We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates on this page as more information becomes available,” the airline said. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.” It is unclear whether the flight was a medical evacuation or whether any patient was onboard.
The cause of the crash is not yet known and it is unclear how many people were onboard, whether the flight from Southend was a medical evacuation or whether any patient was onboard.
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.
John Johnson from Billericay was at Southend airport with his family at the time of the crash. 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 crash. 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 headfirst 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 headfirst 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.”
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.”
Police said they had evacuated the Rochford Hundred golf club as a precaution because of its proximity to the incident.
After announcing flights had been grounded on Sunday, London Southend airport said in a statement that passengers due to travel on Monday should “contact their airline for information and advice”.
“We will restart flight operations as soon as possible and will continue to update the public on developments,” the statement said.
EasyJet earlier said all of its flights to and from Southend had been “diverted to alternative airports or are no longer able to operate”.EasyJet earlier said all of its flights to and from Southend had been “diverted to alternative airports or are no longer able to operate”.