'Fireball' plane crash pilots 'waved to children' before plunging to ground seconds after take-off
The pilots of a light aircraft which crashed in a "huge fireball" on Sunday afternoon were seen waving at children just moments before the horror incident, a witness has claimed.
The plane, a Beech B200 Super King Air, crashed shortly after taking off from Southend Airport in Essex at around 4pm on July 13.
The medical transport plane was bound for Lelystad, in the Netherlands, having arrived at Southend from Pula, Croatia, the Mirror reports.
One man who was at the airport with his family said he saw the plane crashing "head first into the ground". John Johnson, from Billericay, Essex, added that adults and children had waved at the pilots as they prepared to take off.
He said: "The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take-off, departure, powered up, rolled down the runway. It took off and about three or four seconds after it 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. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it. I phoned 999, reported it."
He added: "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."
A member of staff at Rochford Hundred Golf Club, which is next door to the airport, said he felt a "big heat wave" before looking up to see a "massive fireball". The golf club and nearby Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated due to their proximity to the incident.
James Philpott told the BBC: "I was just basically in a hut like in the middle of the course and I didn't even see any plane go down or anything and I just felt like a big heat wave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky. It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like, feel like I'm baking."
He went on to say: "I think everyone was just quite shocked to be honest. People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured or anything."
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He added that he and others were picked up from the course and returned to the clubhouse, where they remain at a "safe distance" with the club closed.
A statement from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service read: "We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3.58pm.
"Crews from Southend (two), Rayleigh Weir and Basildon (two), along with off road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended. We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners."
Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and an air ambulance were dispatched by East of England Ambulance Service.
Writing on social media, David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: "I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone involved."
Matt Dent, Southend City Council's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, also said in a post: "I am aware of the live serious incident ongoing at London Southend Airport.
"At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport. My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident."
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