Latest news with #Essex Police
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Police work to recover fourth body after plane crash at Southend Airport
Three bodies have been recovered from the site of a plane crash at London Southend Airport with work continuing to recover the fourth, police said. Essex Police said the aircraft, which crashed on Sunday afternoon, killing four people, was a medical flight chartered for a patient to be transported for treatment in the UK. It is understood that the patient had been dropped off and the plane was bound for its base in the Netherlands when it crashed, killing four people who were all foreign nationals. Police said the four were the plane's commander, co-pilot and a doctor, who were all men, and a female nurse. The nurse has been named in media reports as Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, who was originally from Chile and was a German national. The doctor has been named in reports as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. It is understood that the two pilots were Dutch. Essex Police said officers are working closely with the coroner and are not able to officially confirm the identities until formal identification has taken place. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the force said it was 'continuing to work on recovering a fourth body within the next 24 hours'. The airport remains closed until further notice. Police said it was an 'extremely complex operation which is being carried out sensitively and to give each person the dignity they deserve'. The force said it was in contact with the respective embassies of the four victims, and support for the families was also in place in their home countries. Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said: 'Our response to this incredibly complex incident continues today in parallel with our colleagues at the AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch). 'Everything we are doing is aimed at finding and preserving the physical and electronic evidence which we hope will help build an accurate picture of what happened. 'The scale of the work being undertaken by many agencies here at London Southend Airport should not be underestimated. 'That work at the scene will continue today and further into the week as we seek to find the answers to what happened here on Sunday afternoon.' Witnesses told of seeing a 'fireball', while images of fire and black smoke were shared on social media after Sunday's crash. The AAIB work includes support of police victim recovery activities, examination of the wreckage and evidence gathering. Police are appealing to members of the public who witnessed the crash or have video footage of it to get in touch. They are also seeking footage of any small jets – not commercial aircraft – landing at the airport on Sunday between 2.15pm and 4pm. Information and footage can be submitted online at
Yahoo
2 days 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
- General
- Yahoo
Four foreign nationals died in airport plane crash
Four people who died when a small plane crashed at London Southend Airport are believed to be foreign nationals, police have confirmed. The airport has been closed since emergency services were called to the incident involving a Beech B200 Super King shortly before 16:00 BST on Sunday. Witnesses described a "fireball" type explosion soon after the Netherlands-bound light aircraft had taken off. All four people were killed in the crash - two pilots and two passengers - and Essex Police said in a press conference on Monday it believed they were foreign nationals. The names of the four who died have not been released but officers are now working to confirm their identities. Ch Supt Morgan Cronin said the victims would be "treated with the utmost respect and dignity". The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has put in place a significant air exclusion zone surrounding the crash site. All flights to and from the airport on Monday have been rerouted, with passengers advised to check with their airline for advice. The plane was operated by Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, which has confirmed it is "actively supporting the authorities with the investigation". The aircraft had flown from the Greek capital Athens to Pula in Croatia on Sunday before heading to Southend. It was due to return to Lelystad on Sunday evening. BBC reporter Sofia Bettia has been at the headquarters of Zeusch Aviation – a privately owned company operating 14 aircraft. "This is a small airport in the Netherlands, on an island to the east of Amsterdam - and today, it is almost deserted. "We just saw airport security staff lowering the Dutch flag to half mast at the entrance of the airport. "Zeusch specialises in medical evacuation flights, private charters, and aerial filming for various events. "We were able to speak to a pilot from another airline. He told us he's worried that one of his colleagues may be among the victims, as many of the staff here know one another." Detectives and forensic teams are working in parallel with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the Royal Air Force, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and London Southend Airport to work out what happened. Speaking at the press conference, Lisa Fitzsimons, a senior inspector at the AAIB, said it was "too early to speculate on what caused this tragic accident". "If there are safety lessons that can be learned, we will make recommendations that will aim to prevent a similar accident occurring," she said. Eight of its inspectors are now at the crash site. John Johnson, 40, from Billericay, Essex, witnessed the crash while watching planes with his wife and children. "You could see [the pilots] smiling and we all kind of smiled back. "It took off in probably three or four seconds. It started to bank heavily to its left," he told the BBC. Then within a few seconds, "the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball," he said. A London Southend Airport spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with those affected by [Sunday's] events and all passengers impacted by this disruption. "We will restart flight operations as soon as possible and will continue to update the public on developments." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Four people were killed in Southend Airport plane crash Aerial video shows plane crash site and wreckage Airport to remain shut after fireball plane crash Essex Police plane crash portal
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Four foreign nationals die in Southend Airport plane crash
Four foreign nationals died on board a plane that crashed after taking off from London Southend Airport, Essex Police said. The medical transport plane bound for the Netherlands crashed at around 3.48pm on Sunday. Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those on board, according to a document which lists passengers, the PA news agency understands. 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. In a statement at the airport on Monday, Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin 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. 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. 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.'
Sky News
2 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Southend plane crash: Essex Police to give update on plane crash - as four people reportedly killed
Police to give update on Southend plane crash Hello and welcome to our live coverage. In just over an hour, we are expecting Essex Police to give an update on yesterday's plane crash in Southend. The 12m-long plane came down near London Southend Airport just before 4pm, with images posted online showing a large fire and a plume of black smoke near the crash site. Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, confirmed its SUZ1 flight had been "involved in an accident". The statement said the company was "actively supporting the authorities with the investigation", adding: "Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected." The circumstances of the crash remain unknown. We'll have all the latest information here...
