Airplane Crash Southend Airport: Multiple Flights Cancelled
The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, a US-built aircraft with a jet turbine, can carry more than 20 people, and the incident has raised concerns about air safety. The airport's closure and flight cancellations have affected travel plans for many, and the situation is being closely monitored by authorities.
A small plane crashed at London Southend Airport in Essex, resulting in a massive fireball and prompting the airport's closure until further notice, with all flights to and from the site cancelled.
The incident occurred shortly before 16:00 BST on Sunday, when the 12-metre Beechcraft King Air B200 plane, operated by Zeusch Aviation, took off from the airport bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands. Eyewitnesses described the plane banking heavily to its left before hitting the ground and erupting into a huge fireball. Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and ambulances, attended the scene, and the East of England Ambulance Service and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service worked to establish the cause of the crash.
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, expressed her thoughts with those involved and is receiving regular updates on the situation. The Air Accident Investigation Branch is working with Essex Police to determine the cause of the crash. The airport's closure has resulted in the cancellation of four flights scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and a cordon remains in place overnight. Nearby locations, including Rochford Hundred Golf Club, were evacuated as a precaution due to their proximity to the crash site.
The incident has caused significant disruption to flights, and the public is advised to avoid the area. The cause of the crash is not yet known, and it is unclear whether there were any passengers on board the plane. Further updates are expected as the investigation into the crash continues.