A small airplane crashed at London Southend Airport, leading to a massive fireball at the crash site. Southend Airport confirmed the accident on social media, calling it a “serious incident,” and shared that the airport staff is working closely with local authorities regarding the crash of the general aviation aircraft.
Details about casualties or the number of people onboard have not yet been confirmed; however, casualties are feared.
Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke emanating from the crash site. The plane involved is said to be 12 meters (39 feet) long. According to the Times of India, British media reported that the aircraft was a medical transport jet, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, equipped with systems designed for patient transport and en route to the Netherlands. This is yet to be confirmed by airport officials.
Essex Police was alerted just before four PM local time to the “serious incident" at the relatively small airport, reported AP. The police have evacuated a local golf club and rugby club due to their proximity to the crash as a precautionary measure.
The Essex Police said, “We are working with all emergency services at the scene now, and that work will be ongoing for several hours.”
In a public statement posted on X saying that the airport has been closed, Southend Airport stated, “All flights to and from the Airport have been cancelled, while police, emergency services, and the air accident investigators are attending the incident.”
According to AP, witness John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, said he saw a “big fireball” after the plane “crashed head first into the ground.”
He said, “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."
Johnson said the airport's fire service responded straight away, with two fire engines sent to the crash site, followed by local police, ambulance and fire services.
According to The Independent, the aircraft involved in the Southend Airport crash was a Beechcraft King Air B200, a US-made 12-metre plane commonly used for short-haul charter flights, medical evacuations, and light freight transport. The Telegraph reported that the B200 model is turbine-powered, can carry over 20 people, and is popular for both private and medical missions.
Local MP David Burton-Sampson urged people to avoid the area and let the emergency services do their work, reported AP. He said, “My thoughts are with everyone involved."
