Southend-on-Sea, UK – July 14, 2025
A tragic plane crash at London Southend Airport on Sunday, July 13, has claimed the lives of all four individuals on board. The small turboprop aircraft, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation, crashed shortly after takeoff, erupting into a massive fireball and prompting a huge response from emergency services.
Essex Police confirmed on Monday that all four occupants of the aircraft died in the incident. While formal identification is ongoing, authorities believe all four were foreign nationals. Reports from PA news agency suggest that two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those on board, indicating the aircraft was likely on a medical transport mission.
Dramatic Scene Unfolds
The incident occurred just before 4:00 PM BST on Sunday. Witnesses at the airport described a harrowing scene as the plane, identified as Zeusch Aviation’s SUZ1 flight, experienced difficulties moments after leaving the runway. John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, recounted seeing the plane “bank heavily to its left,” then “more or less inverted and crashed just head-first into the ground,” resulting in a “big fireball.” He also recalled waving to the pilots, who waved back, just before the doomed takeoff.
Images circulated widely on social media showed a towering plume of thick black smoke and flames rising from the crash site, underscoring the severity of the impact.
Extensive Emergency Response and Airport Closure
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene in force. Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service, and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service converged on the airport, with multiple fire engines, specialist off-road vehicles, ambulances, hazardous area response units, and an air ambulance deployed.
As a safety precaution due to their proximity to the crash site, nearby locations including Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated.
London Southend Airport swiftly announced its closure following the incident, cancelling all flights indefinitely. Passengers with upcoming flights have been advised to contact their airlines for updates. A police cordon remains in place around the crash site to facilitate ongoing investigations.
Investigation Underway
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash. A multi-disciplinary team, including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering, and recorded data, arrived at the scene on Sunday.
While it is too early to speculate on the cause of the tragic accident, authorities are working to gather all necessary information. Zeusch Aviation has confirmed its involvement and stated it is actively supporting the investigation, extending its deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and loved ones.
The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, approximately 12 meters (39 feet) long, often used for medical evacuations, aerial mapping, and private charters. The aircraft involved in the crash had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, before arriving in Southend and was scheduled to return to its home base in Lelystad, Netherlands, on Sunday evening.
The aviation community and the public await further updates as the investigation progresses into this devastating incident.
