Latest news with #RochfordHundredGolfClub
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Pilots ‘waved to children' before aircraft ‘crashed head first' into ground at Southend Airport
The pilots of a plane that crashed in a 'fireball' waved at children shortly before the collision, a witness has said. Essex Police said they were alerted shortly before 4pm on Sunday to 'reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane' at Southend Airport and that they remain on the scene of the 'serious incident'. Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke coming up from the crash site. John Johnson, who was at the airport with his children and wife, said he saw a 'big fireball' after the plane crashed 'head first into the ground'. Mr Johnson, from Billericay, said: 'We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us. '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 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. As a precaution because of their proximity to the incident, police said they evacuated the Rochford Hundred Golf Club. A bartender at the golf club, which is next door to the airport, said he felt a 'big heat wave' before looking up to a 'massive fireball' in the sky. 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 continued: '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.' Mr Philpott said he and others were collected from the course and taken back to the clubhouse where they remain now at a 'safe distance' with the club closed. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said her 'thoughts are with all those involved' in the crash and she is 'receiving regular updates'. In a post on X, she said: 'The emergency services are on scene and are advising the public to avoid the area where possible.' In a statement, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: '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.' The East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance have been sent to the incident. According to the airport's website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon have been cancelled. Southend Airport said in a statement: 'We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft. 'We are working closely with the local authorities and will be able to provide more information as soon as possible.' Essex Police said they remain on the scene alongside fire and ambulance services.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Southend Airport shut after plane crashes in ‘fireball' just after take-off
A plane crashed in a "fireball" shortly after taking off from Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, witnessed by horrified onlookers. Essex Police were alerted just before 4pm to the collision involving a 12-metre plane, with emergency services remaining on the scene of the serious incident. Witnesses described seeing the aircraft bank heavily to its left, invert, and crash head first into the ground, causing a large fireball. As a precaution, Rochford Hundred Golf Club, located near the airport, was evacuated, with a bartender describing feeling a "big heat wave" and seeing a "massive fireball". Emergency services, including fire, ambulance, and police, attended the scene, and four flights scheduled from Southend Airport were cancelled following the incident.
NZ Herald
14-07-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Plane crashes at Southend airport, huge fireball seen on take-off
'My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident.' Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, wrote on X: 'I'm aware of the tragic incident at Southend Airport this afternoon. My thoughts are with all those involved. 'The emergency services are on scene and are advising the public to avoid the area where possible. I am monitoring the situation closely and receiving regular updates.' Essex Police said: 'We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend airport. We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12m plane. 'We are working with all emergency services at the scene now, and that work will be ongoing for several hours. We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues. 'As a precaution, due to their proximity to the incident, we are evacuating the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club.' Essex Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: 'We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3.58pm. Five crews and two off road vehicles initially attended. 'We are continuing to work at the scene with our partners. Please avoid the area if possible while this work continues.' The East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance had been sent to the incident. An airport spokesman said: 'We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport involving a general aviation aircraft'. 'We waved at the pilots' A witness who watched the aircraft take-off said he 'waved at the pilots' in the moments before the disaster. John Johnson, who was at Southend Airport with his family at the time of the crash, said he saw a 'big fireball' after the plane 'crashed head first into the ground'. Johnson, from Billericay, said: 'We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us. 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 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.' He added: '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.' Online flight tracking information suggested that it reached a maximum height of 53m above Southend's fifth runway, facing to the northeast, before crashing. Data broadcast by the aeroplane's automatic onboard systems suggested that it drifted to the left before hitting the ground. Plane made two flights earlier in day The crashed aircraft, registered PH-ZAZ, had carried out two flights today before the disaster at Southend. It flew from Athens to Pula Airport, departing the Croatian resort town for Southend on a flight of about three hours. Yesterday, the Beech B200 had departed from its home base of Lelystad in the Netherlands for Memmingen in southern Germany, before flying to the Greek capital. A commercial charter website's entry for PH-ZAZ suggested it was configured as a luxury private aeroplane with up to 12 seats and a comfortable leather interior. The Beechcraft King Air B200 has two turboprop engines, meaning a jet turbine that spins a propeller, and is capable of carrying around a dozen people. The United States-made planes are widely used as short-haul charter airliners and for carrying light freight. The plane also carries out medical evacuation flights. Zeusch Aviation, owners of the Beech, listed the aircraft as available for 'Medevac [medical evacuation]/ Repatriation / Transplant flights Service' on their own social media profile. A post on LinkedIn suggested that in June, PH-ZAZ had been used on a medical patient transfer flight between Jersey and Scotland. Westcliff Rugby Club said it had not been evacuated, contrary to Essex Police's statement that people would be told to leave the premises about a quarter of a mile north of the airport. Club spokesperson Lorraine Saccini, 63, told the Telegraph: 'No they haven't evacuated us. I asked the police and fire brigade and they said no.' Saccini said the crash site was visible from the club's balcony, adding: 'We can see the runway, but we're not in line with it. There's a lot of helicopters going around. There's ambulance, police and everything else there. They put the fire out really quick – they were there within seconds.' A source from Rochford Hundred Golf Club said the organisation, whose grounds are next to the airport's northern side, was hosting the quarter-finals of the Essex County Cup. The Telegraph understands the match was abandoned after the plane came down close to the 14th tee. A bartender at the golf club said he felt a 'big heat wave' before looking up to a 'massive fireball' in the sky. 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 continued: '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.' Philpott said he and others were collected from the course and taken back to the clubhouse where they remain now at a 'safe distance' with the club closed. Airport closed and flights cancelled In a notice for pilots, Southend Airport said it was closed with immediate effect from 4.07pm local time and that no air traffic control services would be available. Photos on social media showed that passengers were in the process of boarding an airliner via a flight of steps when the crash happened a few hundred metres away. EasyJet confirmed that its flights scheduled to depart from Southend had been cancelled. 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by the incident at London Southend Airport this afternoon,' said a spokesman. 'As the airport is currently closed, all remaining flights to and from London Southend today have been diverted to alternative airports or are no longer able to operate. 'We are doing all we can to support our customers and have contacted them directly with options to rebook or receive a refund and are arranging hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.' Aideen Cowling, a mother-of-two, had just got out of her car at the airport when she looked up to see a massive fireball emerging from the wreckage. The 40-year-old was about to catch a flight for a 10-day summer holiday in Mallorca with her children, aged 6 and 3, and husband, Blair, 44. She said: 'I just saw this massive fireball. By the time I said: Blair, look at that, there was no fireball. He only saw the black smoke.' Cowling said a pair of workers in hi-vis clothing explained that sometimes the fire brigade do an exercise, 'so it's probably just them training. Don't worry and get your flight.' He added: 'But then a couple just in front of us said: I don't think it is. I think a plane has just crashed.' The couple, from Bexleyheath, Essex, added that they were the last in line to check their luggage before being told that the flight had been cancelled. Adrian Gaudin, 26, said he had fastened his seatbelt on his flight back to Paris, France, when he saw the thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage. The receptionist had been staying in north London with friends to attend last weekend's Wireless musical festival in Finsbury Park. He told the Telegraph: 'We were already on the flight and they told us to get off. I saw a huge cloud on the runway. 'It's so bad, but I was just like: get me home. I didn't think they would cancel everything.' John Dansie was set to fly to Mallorca with his wife for a wedding anniversary but has been stranded after his flight to Palma was cancelled. The 54-year-old has had an alternative flight booked from Luton and had a hotel room booked near the airport. He said: 'It's just devastating. The staff are being very helpful.' Some flights set to land at the airport have been diverted to Gatwick Airport, the Telegraph understands. Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the crash. A statement from the firm said: 'We can confirm that Zeusch Aviation flight SUZ1 was involved in an accident today at London Southend Airport. 'We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates on this page as more information becomes available. 'Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.'
Sunday World
13-07-2025
- Sunday World
Plane crashes shortly after take off at London airport
Police said they remain on the scene of a 'serious incident' and were alerted shortly before 4pm on Sunday A plane has been involved in a collision at Southend Airport in a 'serious incident', police said. In a statement, Essex Police said they remain on the scene of a 'serious incident' and were alerted shortly before 4pm on Sunday to 'reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane'. Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke coming up from the crash site at the Essex airport. As a precaution because of their proximity to the incident, police said they are evacuating the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club. The incident occurred at Southend Airport (Alamy/PA) News in 90 Seconds - Sunday July 13 In a statement, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: '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.' The East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance have been sent to the incident. According to the airport's website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon have been cancelled. In a post on X, 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, said on X: '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.' Police remain on the scene alongside fire and ambulance services, the force added.
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Southend Airport plane crash: Footage shows moment golfers rush to flaming wreck after jet ploughed into ground 'seconds after take-off'
This is the terrifying moment brave golfers run towards the blazing plane crash at Southend Airport trying to see if they can help. Jack O'Connor shared the footage of a group of men running across the Rochford Hundred Golf Club, which is next to the airport, towards a huge cloud of smoke. The desperate group appear to be looking for someone who was nearby to the 'fireball' and possibly even hit by the crash. In clipped breaths the criminal psychologist shouts 'f**king hell, who's there?' It then sounds like the man replied to another person nearby: 'F**k is happened here... from the airport on the golf course.' He adds: 'Oi watch the explosion boys, watch the explosion. What the f**k. Someone on the tee, who is it, who's on the tee?' 'Where - where's someone on the floor,' he says dramatically before the video cuts out. Earlier this afternoon, a small plane 'nosedived' and crashed after takeoff in front of horrified families at the Essex airport. The 40ft-long Beech B200 aircraft was heading to the Netherlands but reached just 175ft before crashing yards from the runway. Footage has been circulating on social media of a black plume of smoke billowing into the sky, with one clip showing passengers boarding another flight close by. The flight to Lelystad, east of Amsterdam, was scheduled to take off at 3.45pm but took off ten minutes late, according to Flightradar. It is unclear how many people were onboard but the twin-engined turboprop plane, believed to be 31-years-old, can fit up to 12 passengers and the pilots were seen waving to children as the plane was taxiing. Essex police, ambulances and fire engines are all at the scene. Residents are being advised to stay away from the area and several Easyjet flights from Southend have been cancelled. It was reported that the Rochford Hundred Golf Club was evacuated due to its proximity to the explosion as a 'precaution'. A bartender at the club, which is next door to Southend Airport, said he felt a 'big heat wave' before looking up to a 'massive fireball' in the sky. Families have been left distraught after seeing the traumatising crash, including John Johnson who was at the airport with his family when they saw the plane crash 'headfirst into the ground' and explode into a 'big fireball'. The father said: 'We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us. 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.' '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.' One shaken mother who was watching the planes take off from a Holiday Inn viewing deck with her daughter told Metro: 'It was honestly a surreal experience. The plane took off, then around 50 meters it sort of kicked to the left, then around 100 meters it abruptly banked to the left. 'With that, it basically descended down headfirst and just burst into flames as it hit the didn't look like there was time to bail out. 'Luckily, I think my daughter is too young to know what really happened. I feel for the other kids who were there and witnessed it too. It felt like we were in a bad dream.' Another witness, John, told the outlet: 'The plane took off, and within a few seconds, it had a steep bank to its left. Then it turned into an inverted nosedive, almost, and it crashed into the ground in a big fireball. I don't know how many people were onboard, I could only see the two pilots before they took off.' The Zeutch Aviation plane appears to have taken off in a northeasterly direction at about 120mph and reached around 175ft, according to Flightradar, but data indicates it slowed after leaving the ground and turning to the north. The plane, which is often used for mapping and for medivac journeys, had completed two trips that day, one from Athens in Greece to Pula in Croatia and then from Pula to Southend, landing in the UK at 2.51pm. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague has not received a request for consular assistance, Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reported. Dani Hill, who lives near Southend Airport, told the Daily Star: 'I saw the huge fireball from my window. I'm still shaking like mad. 'I've never seen anything like it. Praying all involved are ok if any.' One user wrote on X: 'Just witnessed a Beechcraft crash on take-off at Southend airport about 40 minutes after a Cessna also left the runway. 'Thoughts are with those on the aircraft. Absolutely tragic. Was waving to the aircrew just moments before.' MP David Burton-Sampson wrote on X: '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.' Councillor Matt Dent said: '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.' The chairman of Westcliff Rugby Club, which is near Southend Airport, said people at the club did not end up having to evacuate following the plane crash, despite initial reports. Pete Jones said: 'That didn't happen in the end. (Police) changed their mind. 'We've got a big event there, 250 people, and they just said no, you don't have to evacuate.' Mr Jones said the aircraft went down about 1,100yards from the clubhouse and that people there could see smoke in the aftermath. 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 continued: '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.' Mr Philpott said he and others were collected from the course and taken back to the clubhouse where they remain now at a 'safe distance' with the club closed. Easyjet have cancelled several flights out of Southend, including a 3.55pm flight to Paris, a 4.30pm flight to Alicante, a 5.25pm flight to Faro, as well as a 5.30pm flight to Palma de Mallorca. A Beechcraft 200 had previously crashed at Southend Airport, killing its pilot in the takeoff in 1987, according to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. London Southend Airport said: 'We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft. 'We are working closely with the local authorities and will be able to provide more information as soon as possible.' Essex Police have said: 'We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport. 'We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane. 'We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours. 'We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.' East of England Ambulance Service said: 'Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance have been sent to Southend Airport responding to reports of an incident involving an airplane. 'This is a live incident and still developing as we work at the scene with our emergency services colleagues and aviation partners.' Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: '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. 'Please avoid the area if possible while this work continues.
