A small plane crashed at London’s Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, sending a plume of black smoke into the air as the aircraft burst into flames.
The plane, a Beechcraft B200, went down shortly after takeoff, prompting an immediate response from emergency services.
According to Essex Police, the incident occurred just before 4:00 pm local time. “We are working with all emergency services at the scene now, and that work will be ongoing for several hours,” a statement from the police read. The airport confirmed the incident, stating, “We are working closely with the local authorities and will be able to provide more information as soon as possible.”
The aircraft, which was headed to Lelystad in the Netherlands, reportedly belonged to Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch-based company.
Witnesses described seeing the plane bank sharply to the left before crashing into the ground and erupting into a massive fireball. Emergency services, including fire crews and ambulances, rushed to the scene.
The airport’s website showed that several flights were cancelled following the incident. Authorities have cordoned off the area around the crash site and are investigating the cause of the accident.
