Southend Airport plane crash: four died, police confirmed
Police are due to hold a press conference this afternoon to issue further updates however it has now been confirmed four people have sadly died.
Essex Police said they were alerted shortly before 4pm on Sunday to 'reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane' at the airport, calling it a 'serious incident' although there has been no confirmation of the number of casualties.
Read more
Images posted on social media showed a plume of fire and black smoke coming up from the crash site, while witnesses described seeing a 'fireball'.
Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, confirmed its SUZ1 flight had been 'involved in an accident' at London Southend Airport.
The statement said the company was 'actively supporting the authorities with the investigation', adding: 'Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.'
Zeusch Aviation's website says the plane can be used for medical flights to transport patients or organs.
An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) spokeswoman said: 'The AAIB has started an investigation into an accident involving an aircraft near Southend Airport which occurred yesterday afternoon.
'A multi-disciplinary team including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering and recorded data arrived at the accident site yesterday afternoon.
'Inquiries are ongoing today.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Pilot 'switched hands on controls' before crashing light aircraft on busy A road
The Grob 109B motorglider aircraft crashed on to a busy A road outside Aston Down airfield in Gloucestershire last summer with the AAIB blaming pilot error A pilot crashed a light aircraft injuring both men on board after confusing his left and right hands, an Air Accident Investigation Branch report has found. The Grob 109B motorglider aircraft crashed on to a busy A road outside Aston Down airfield in Gloucestershire last summer with the passenger suffering significant spinal injuries that left him in hospital for several days. The aircraft owner Christopher Tooze, 70, was flying with someone who according to the report had "a significant profile within the gliding world". Mr Tooze allowed him to take the controls. The AAIB report said "inappropriate control inputs" by the passenger that caused the crash. It read: "The passenger was in the right seat, so for this phase of flight had his right hand on the control column and his left hand on the engine controls." "The passenger stated that he had no intention of trying to land the aircraft. However, he continued to fly through the turn onto final approach with his right hand on the control column. "The intent was to make an approach in gliding mode, with engine at idle power and the rate of descent controlled by the airbrakes. "After the final turn he swapped his left hand to the control column and operated the airbrakes with his right hand. The approach was made at an airspeed of 60-70 kt." The report states that the passenger was sat in the right back seat and should have had his left hand on the control column and right hand on the airbrake. "The pilot made no effort to take control from the passenger nor did the passenger say to the pilot 'you have control'," the report states. The report added: "The pilot was able to get out of the aircraft, but the passenger was extracted by ambulance paramedics." There was no evidence of a technical problem in the Grob, the report confirmed. Although it concluded that "the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair". At the time of the incident in August last year, emergency services were scrambled to help the stricken pair and drivers who had seen the plane come down in front of them. An eyewitness said that it "looked like it stalled and nose dived into the main road". A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said at the time that: "Motorists are advised that road closures are in place while emergency services are in attendance. There were two occupants on board who will be assessed by the ambulance service, and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Pilot, 84, and passenger, 78, rushed to hospital after plane crashes and overturns on runway
A pilot and passenger were rushed to hospital after a plane crashed and overturned on a runway. Emergency services arrived at Swansea Airport last week after a 'pilot error' caused the light aircraft to flip. South Wales Police confirmed that both the pilot, an 84-year-old man, and his passenger, a 78-year-old woman, did not suffer serious injuries. Mid and West Fire and Rescue service crews were at the scene for more than an hour. The pair were taken to Morriston Hospital nearby. A spokeswoman for the fire service said: 'At 4.28pm on Saturday, July 19, crews from Swansea west and Swansea central fire stations were called to an incident at Swansea Airport. 'Crews responded to a light aircraft overturned on the runway. 'Two casualties were reported and left in the care of the ambulance service. 'Special Service Core, police and ambulance were also in attendance. Crews left the scene at 5.44pm.' The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed an investigation has been launched. A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: 'Officers attended Swansea Airport on Saturday, 19 July at around 4.30pm following a report of an overturned aircraft. 'Neither the pilot, an 84-year-old man from Sketty, or the passenger, a 78-year-old woman from Reading, Berkshire, have sustained any serious injuries. 'The cause of the crash is believed to be pilot error. No concerns were raised regarding the pilot's fitness to fly.' It comes after a light aircraft crashed after a pilot confused his left and right hands, an investigation has found. The plane was trying to land when it struck trees and crashed on a congested road of cars outside Aston Down airfield in Gloucestershire last August. Both men on the Grob 109B motorglider aircraft were injured with the passenger suffering significant spinal injuries that left him in hospital for several days. The aircraft owner allowed him to take the controls to give him an experience flight. It was 'inappropriate control inputs' by the passenger that caused the crash, the AAIB said.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Pilots killed in Southend Airport crash are named
The two Dutch pilots killed in the Southend airport plane crash that killed four people have been 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. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Eggs thrown as protesters clash outside Canary Wharf migrant hotel MORE: Police blast 'hooligans' for £100,000 cost of Epping migrant hotel disorder MORE: What I Own: I bought my £212,500 Chelmsford one-bed with a government grant
