Pilots killed in Southend Airport crash are named
Captain Danny Marco Franken and First Officer Floris Christiaan Rhee were 'both highly respected and cherished colleagues', Zeusch Aviation said.
They were flying a small Beechcraft B200 medical aircraft carrying newly hired nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, Dr Matthias Eyl, 46, when it nosedived into a fiery explosion on July 13.
Zeusch Aviation said it will not release any information on the medical team on board flight SUZ1.
Marco Rietvelt, managing director of Zeusch Aviation: '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.'
A police investigation is ongoing.
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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As organised crime tightens its grip, traffickers are transforming an iconic city into what could become a full-blown 'narco-state". 11 A ketamine stash worth tens of millions of euros was uncovered by police - thought to be the 'largest ever' haul 11 An armed cop outside a court case where a Dutch 'drugs mafia' case was being heard Credit: AFP/GETTY 11 Brit Jennifer Young, 33, was arrested after flying to Mexico from Amsterdam with 13kg of ketamine 11 Ketamine is strengthening its grip on the hugely popular city of Amsterdam Credit: Getty Amsterdam – the city of canals, coffee shops and carefree nights – is fast becoming something far darker. Mayor Femke Halsema has issued a stark warning: "Without a fundamental change of course, the Netherlands is in danger of becoming a narco-state." If change doesn't come fast, 'violence will reach an all-time high", she added. The city is no longer just a tourist haven with famously relaxed cannabis laws. Instead, it's becoming a hub for global trafficking networks - where violent drug syndicates launder money, exploit legal loopholes and draw in children as young as 14 to work as drug "collectors". Halsema described the situation as "mopping with the tap running". But what was once a niche club drug, Ketamine is now one of Europe's fastest-growing illicit substances - and postcard friendly Amsterdam is now a leading global hub for the crisis. One in four party-goers aged 16 to 35 in the city reported using ketamine in the past year, according to official data. Some are monthly or even weekly users. In the short-term, users can feel its euphoric effects, hallucinations and as though they are floating - taking too much can leave some in a comatose state known as a k-hole. Ket had me peeing every 2 seconds Those taking the drug long term or addicts can suffer from damage to their nasal passageways, liver and kidneys, with some having bladder issues - in large doses, the drug can also be fatal. Users who have kicked the drug described shocking symptoms and spending up to £280 a DAY on their addictions. Officials in Amsterdam have noted a shift in user behaviour - with the mayor's office revealing that the use of ketamine at home "has been rising over the years". This aligns with reports from emergency services, who say incidents involving ketamine are steadily increasing. Festival medics are also reporting more emergency cases. 11 Police on a drugs raid in Amsterdam where Ketamine has become a huge problem. 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City officials said: 'The Netherlands functions as a transit hub, processing point, and export gateway in the global drug trade, including ketamine-related activities.' 11 Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema 11 Aerial view of container dock and fuel storage tanks, Amsterdam 11 Ketamine is running rampant in Amsterdam (file photo) Recent seizures around Amsterdam confirmed the city's involvement not just in trafficking, but also as a storage location for large volumes of the drug. In January 2024, police seized two tonnes of ketamine from a shed in Muiderberg, east of Amsterdam - approximately worth a whopping £47million. It was dubbed the largest ketamine haul in Dutch history, Politico reported. Officers discovered other hard drugs on the premises, and arrested a 55-year-old man. Two children found at the property were taken into emergency care. Authorities warned that the ketamine trade is often tied to wider criminal activities, including money laundering and weapons possession. 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