Flights at London Southend Airport have been cancelled after a small plane crashed on Sunday afternoon. The crash triggered a large emergency response and brought operations at the airport to a halt.
Authorities have not yet shared how many people were on board or where the plane was flying. Airport officials confirmed the event as a “serious incident” involving a general aviation aircraft.
Images quickly spread online showing thick black smoke and flames rising from the crash site. The aircraft, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, was reportedly a medical transport jet on its way to the Netherlands. The plane is about 12 meters long and is equipped to carry patients for emergency transfers.
A man who witnessed the crash described the moment it happened. John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, said the plane took off, then suddenly veered sharply left before crashing.
“It took off, and within a few seconds it banked left. Then it flipped over and crashed nose-first into the ground,” he said. “There was a big fireball after it hit the ground.”
Johnson said that just moments before the crash, he and his family had waved at the pilots. “They all waved back at us,” he added. “It made it even more upsetting to see what happened next.”
After the crash, emergency crews at the airport responded within seconds. Two fire engines were quickly at the scene, followed by more fire trucks, police, and ambulance services. The airport fire team was the first to act, followed by local emergency responders.
Essex Police confirmed they were alerted just before 4 p.m. They said they are working with all emergency services, and the area will be active with crews for several hours.
Police asked the public to stay away from the scene while the investigation continues. A section of the airport remains closed, and flights in and out of Southend have been suspended until further notice.
In a public message, the local Member of Parliament, David Burton-Sampson, asked people to respect the work of the emergency teams. “My thoughts are with everyone involved,” he said.
Air crash investigators have also arrived to begin a full assessment of what led to the crash. At this stage, no official statement has been made about the cause.
London Southend Airport is a smaller airport located about 72 kilometers (45 miles) east of central London. The facility serves both domestic and international flights, as well as private and medical aircraft.
The area around the crash has been secured by police. Authorities said updates will be given once more is known.
