This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.com/news/articles/c0m82l8e41xo
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Council boss urges Southend to 'come together' after plane crash | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Air Accident Investigation inspectors were at the crash site in Essex | |
A council leader has urged a city to come together after four people died in a plane crash. | |
It has emerged that a Dutch pilot, a co-pilot and a nurse were among the people who died after a small plane crashed at London Southend Airport on Sunday. | |
Southend-on-Sea City Council leader Daniel Cowan said: "This is a deeply saddening moment for our community, and our thoughts are with everyone affected. | |
"Southend is a city that comes together in times of sorrow, and I know our residents will join me in offering compassion and solidarity to all those impacted by this tragedy." | |
London Southend Airport has been closed since the plane crash, and witnesses described a "fireball" type explosion soon after the Netherlands-bound light aircraft had taken off. | London Southend Airport has been closed since the plane crash, and witnesses described a "fireball" type explosion soon after the Netherlands-bound light aircraft had taken off. |
A woman who was killed when the plane crashed was working on her first day as a "flight nurse", the BBC understands. | |
Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, was a German citizen born in Chile and had previously worked as a nurse in the public sector. | |
Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz was one of four people who died when a light aircraft crashed at London Southend Airport on Sunday | |
It is the second tragedy to happen in the city in recent weeks. | |
On 28 June, Leonna Ruka, 7, from Dagenham in east London, was killed when a branch from a large tree in Chalkwell Park fell on five children. | |
The opening of an inquest into her death is due to take place on Wednesday. | |
Cowan said: "Two major tragedies in a short space of time is clearly going to take their toll on people, which is why we're encouraging people - anyone needing help - to reach out for it. | |
"People are coming together and mourning these tragedies as a community, and you can see the outpouring of love and support in person, and online with communities looking to help and support each other," he said. | |
Hundreds of teddy bears and flowers were left at Chalkwell Park following the death of seven-year-old Leonna Ruka | |
The airline EasyJet, which has a base at Southend, said Tuesday's morning's three scheduled departures, and the return flights, were operating via London Gatwick. | |
It said it continued to "work closely with the airport to understand when operations are able to resume". | |
Passengers were advised to check its Flight Tracker for the latest information. | |
Eastern Airways offered "sincere condolences" to the crashed plane's Netherlands-based operator and to staff at Southend Airport who had to deal with the incident. | |
It said a Newquay-based aircraft was "stranded" at Southend, which was affecting its flights. | |
A spokesperson said it had "refunded a number of passengers to allow them to make alternate transport arrangements". | |
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |