Southend airport: four killed in medical transport plane crash
The Times understands that all four people were crew on the plane, which crashed seconds after leaving the runway at the airport in Essex.
Sources said that the pilot and co-pilot were both Dutch men. The medical team was made up of a female nurse from Chile and a male medic, thought to be German.
The nurse has been identified as Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, a German citizen born in Chile who was reportedly working on her first day as a 'flight nurse.'
One of her friends described her as the 'kindest soul' and said: 'She was so excited for this new job — it was her first day.
'She had a giving heart and was humble, and chose a profession that reflected that.
'She was just lovely. She was outgoing. She was fun. She wanted so much more with her life,' her friend Anna Smith told the BBC.
Maria's loved ones were said to have set up a Go Fund Me to bring home her remains to be buried next to those of her father.
Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin of Essex police said: 'Yesterday afternoon, an aircraft which had landed here earlier in the day took off bound for the Netherlands.
'Shortly after take off, it got into difficulty and crashed within the airport boundary. Sadly, we can now confirm that all four people on board died. We are working to officially confirm their identities. At this stage, we believe all four are foreign nationals.
'Our thoughts are with the families and their colleagues at this tragic time. I can promise that those who have passed away will be treated with the utmost care and dignity.'
He confirmed that the Civil Aviation Authority had put a significant air exclusion zone around the crash site. The airport will remain closed until further notice as air accident investigators scour the site.
The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air B200 crashed seconds after taking off at 3.48pm. It was equipped with medical systems for transporting patients and was operated by Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch company that specialises in medical evacuation services and transplant flights, as well as private charters.
The plane had arrived from Pula in Croatia and dropped off a patient. It was returning to Lelystad in the Netherlands, where it was based.
A spokesman for Zeusch Aviation said: 'It is with deep sadness that we confirm there were no survivors among people on board flight SUZ1. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.'
According to the latest filed annual accounts, Zeusch Aviation had 15 employees. The company is owned by Con Zwinkels, a tech millionaire and a former Boeing 747 pilot. He made his fortune with his company Leaseweb and became active in business aviation a few years ago.
'This is a dark day for aviation. We wish those involved strength and our thoughts are with the victims,' said Ton van Deursen, chairman of the Dutch association of small aviation companies.
'Zeusch Aviation is only a small company and the accident has put a lot of pressure on them. This could lead to years of investigation into the circumstances. Business jets are subject to the same safety requirements as airlines like KLM and Transavia. These are closely monitored.'
Jude Winstanley, the chief executive of Southend airport, said: 'Our staff are working closely with the emergency services and air accident investigators to support their work. I would like to thank them for all of their hard work during this period.'
Lisa Fitzsimons, of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, said that 'it is too early to speculate' on what may have caused the crash. A 'multi-disciplinary team including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering and recorded data' arrived at the crash site on Sunday, she added.
Witnesses told of seeing a 'fireball' when the plane crashed. It had banked sharply to the left after taking off before 'nose diving' into the ground at the perimeter of the airport.
John Johnson, who was at the airport with his children and wife on Sunday, said that before the plane took off, 'we all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us'.
He added: 'It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head first into the ground.'There was a big fireball. I'd say that we're pretty shaken up. I just feel sad for the people who were on the plane and, of course, their loved ones and their family. Our thoughts are with them.'
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