Latest news with #Dutch pilots
Sky News
16 hours ago
- Sky News
Doctor was among four people killed in Southend Airport plane crash - as one victim's body not yet recovered
A doctor was among the four people who died in a plane crash at Southend Airport - as police say they are yet to recover the body of one victim. Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse, 31-year-old Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, also known as Fena, died in the crash that caused a fireball at the airport on Sunday. In an update on Tuesday, Essex Police said it had recovered three bodies and "we're continuing to work on recovering a fourth body within the next 24 hours". "We're also now able to confirm the flight in question was a medical flight chartered to London Southend Airport for a patient to be transported onward for medical treatment in the UK," the force added. "On board the flight when it tragically crashed were the commander and the co-pilot - who are both men - and a nurse, a woman, and a doctor, a man, all of whom died." Police said they not yet able to officially confirm the identities of the victims. The medical transport aircraft had dropped off a patient and was beginning its journey back to the Netherlands when it crashed at about 3.48pm on Sunday. John Johnson, who was at the airport with his wife and children, said he saw a "big fireball" exploding across the sky as the plane plunged "head first into the ground". "We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us," he said. "The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take-off, powered up [and] rolled down the runway. "It took off and about three or four seconds [later] 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." Mr Johnson added: "There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock [after] witnessing it." Please refresh the page for the latest version.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Investigators speak out as more details emerge over 'fireball' Southend Airport plane crash
Investigators probing the Southend Airport plane crash have spoken out as new details about the horror incident have emerged. It has now been confirmed that four foreign nationals died on board a plane that crashed after taking off from London Southend Airport on Sunday (July 13). The medical transport plane bound for the Netherlands crashed at around 3.48pm. Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those on board, according to a document which lists passengers, the PA news agency reported. It is also understood that the plane had dropped off a patient at Southend and was due to return to its base in the Netherlands. Witnesses told of seeing a 'fireball' while images of fire and black smoke were shared on social media. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here The Chilean nurse was on her first day on the job, according to reports, which named her as Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise 7,500 euros for her family. In a statement at the airport on Monday, 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.' The airport will stay closed until further notice. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Its chief executive Jude Winstanley 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 (AAIB) said 'it is too early to speculate' on what may have caused the crash as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the four people killed in the plane crash. In a message on X the Prime Minister said: 'Terrible news that four people tragically lost their lives in yesterday's plane crash at Southend Airport. My thoughts are with their families and loved ones. 'I also want to thank all the emergency responders who attended the scene.' John Johnson, who was at the airport with his children and wife on Sunday, said they saw a 'big fireball' after the plane crashed 'head first into the ground'. Mr Johnson, from Billericay, Essex, told PA 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.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Four killed in small plane crash at UK Southend Airport
Four foreigners were killed when a small plane crashed at London Southend Airport shortly after take-off, United Kingdom police say. The US-built Beechcraft B200 Super King Air plane had been bound for the Netherlands, when it "got into difficulty and crashed within the airport boundary," Essex Police Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin told reporters. The plane operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation had flown from Athens, Greece to Pula in Croatia on Sunday before heading to Southend. It was due to return to its home base of Lelystad, in the Netherlands, on Sunday evening. The 12-metre-long turboprop plane came down moments after tak-eoff and burst into flames. "Sadly, we can now confirm that all four people on board died," Cronin said. "We are working to officially confirm their identities." Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those on board, according to a document which lists passengers, the PA news agency understands. Zeusch Aviation operates medical evacuation and transplant flights as well as aerial mapping and private charters, according to its website. The company said that "it is with deep sadness that we confirm there were no survivors among the four people on board flight SUZ1". Southend Airport, which is located about 56km east of the capital and used by easyJet to fly to European holiday destinations, will remain closed until further notice, the airport's CEO Jude Winstanley said. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which investigates civil aircraft accidents, said it was "too early" to determine what caused the crash. It has deployed eight inspectors to the site. The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, first built in the 1970s, is an aviation workhorse used for a wide variety of roles around the world. In 2017, a plane of the same model crashed into the roof of a shopping mall in Melbourne, Australia moments after take-off, killing the pilot and four US tourists. with AP and PA
