Captain who died in Southend airport crash named

Telegraph

24-07-2025

The pilots of the plane that crashed into a fireball at Southend airport earlier this month have been named.
Captain Danny Franken, 53, and First Officer Floris Rhee, 24, died on July 13 when a small medical aircraft nosedived to the ground.
The two Dutchmen had just taken off in the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air B200, which had just dropped off a patient, and were returning to the Netherlands.
Also on board were Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a Chilean-born German nurse on her first day of work, and Matthias Eyl, a German doctor.
Zeusch Aviation, the company running the flight, paid tribute to the 'professionalism, dedication and character' of Mr Franken and Mr Rhee.
A company spokesman said: 'With great sadness, we can now confirm the identities of our flight crew who tragically lost their lives on flight SUZ1.
'Our two pilots, Captain Danny Marco Franken and First Officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, were both highly respected and cherished colleagues. Their professionalism, dedication, and character will have a lasting impact on all who worked with them.
'On request of our customer, we do not release any information on the identities of the medical team that was on board of flight SUZ1.
'Our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and all those affected by this devastating loss. Zeusch Aviation continues to offer support to the families and is in close contact with the relevant authorities as investigations continue.'
The crash, which took place at 3.48pm, shut the airport until it fully reopened on July 17.
Online flight tracking information suggested that the plane reached a maximum height of 175ft above Southend's fifth runway, facing to the north-east, before crashing.
Data broadcast by the aeroplane's automatic onboard systems suggested that it drifted to the left before hitting the ground.
An investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is underway.
Marco Rietvelt, the managing director of Zeusch Aviation, said: 'Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team.
'Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out. We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss.
'Our priority is to support the families of those lost, as well as our employees, during this incredibly difficult time. We are also fully committed to assisting the authorities in their ongoing investigation.''
Anna Smit, a friend of Mrs Rojaz Ortiz, said the 31-year-old nurse got married in February 2024 and had been 'so excited' for her new role as a flight nurse.
Ms Smith told the BBC: 'She had a giving heart and was humble, and chose a profession that reflected that. She was so excited for this new job – it was her first day.
'She was just lovely. She was outgoing. She was fun. She wanted so much more with her life. Everyone is just struggling at the moment. We can't believe this is real.'
Mr Eyl, 46, was confirmed as a victim of the crash by emergency rescue services in Germany.