Latest news with #plane crash
The Independent
an hour 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
Sky News
4 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.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Second victim of Southend Airport plane crash is named as 'fantastic' German paramedic father as probe into tragedy continues
The second victim of the Southend Airport plane crash tragedy has been revealed to be a 'fantastic' German paramedic and father. Dr Matthias Eyl, 46, from Kleinmaischeid in west Germany, worked as a paramedic and was also employed as a doctor aboard international flights transporting patients, German media reports. A total of four people, all foreign nationals, died after the plane, bound for the Netherlands, crashed and burst into flames just seconds after takeoff at 3.48pm on Sunday. Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those on board the Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, according to a document which lists passengers. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. Earlier it was revealed that nurse Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a German citizen born in Chile, was also killed in the crash during her first day on the job. It is understood that the plane had dropped off a patient at Southend and was due to return to its base in the Netherlands. The German Red Cross said in a statement: 'We are deeply shocked and infinitely saddened by the sudden death of our esteemed emergency paramedic Matthias Eyl, who died in a plane crash yesterday at the age of just 46 years old. 'Matthias has been in service with us over many years: as a doctor, comrade and friend. With his warm, honest, and humorous nature, he has not only provided medical assistance, but shaped our community. A total of four people, all foreign nationals, died after the plane, bound for the Netherlands, crashed and burst into flames just seconds after takeoff at 3.48pm on Sunday 'He was a man who listened, tackled and encouraged [...] when it came down to it. His commitment was not taken for granted, his loss is immeasurable. 'We lose not only a reliable doctor, but above all a special person. Our thoughts are with his family and all those close to him. 'Take care, Matthias. We will never forget you!' Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, said in a statement on Monday: 'It is with deep sadness that we confirm there were no survivors among the people on board flight SUZ1. 'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. 'Zeusch Aviation continues to fully cooperate with the relevant investigative authorities and is providing all possible support to those affected.' 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. An hour later it took off again, with witnesses describing a 'fireball', while images of fire and black smoke were shared on social media. The Chilean nurse was on her first day on the job, according to reports, which named her as Ms Ortiz, 31. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise 7,500 euros for her family. The firm both medical staff worked for, Globalmed, said in a statement: 'It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the tragic loss of two of our dear medical colleagues and friends. Their passing away has left a deep void in our teams and in our hearts. 'They were not only valued medical professionals but also kind, inspiring individuals whose presence brought light and strength to those around them. Their dedication, warmth, and friendship will be deeply missed by all who knew them. 'We honour their memory and hold them in our hearts. May they rest in peace. 'We are in frequent contact with the relatives and offer our help where possible. 'As a medical company without aircraft, we are not involved in investigations by the UK authorities concerning flight SUZ1. They will only inform the the airplane operator, and not us.' 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. 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.'
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Nurse, 31, who was killed in the Southend Airport plane crash alongside three other foreign nationals 'was on her first day in the job'
A newly married nurse said to have been on her first day in a new job was one of four people killed when a plane ploughed into the ground at Southend Airport. Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a German citizen but born in Chile, has been named as one of the foreign nationals who died when the jet 'corkscrewed' and burst into a ball of flames on Sunday. Horrified families watched on as they tried to board their own flights, while plumes of black smoke filed the sky. More shocking footage showed golfers from the nearby course running towards the flaming jet. Police today confirmed all four people on board the jet had been killed. It's now been revealed 31-year-old Ms Ortiz had worked as a nurse before but was on her first shift as a flight nurse, the BBC reported. Her friends, who called her Feña, have described her as the 'kindest soul' and 'didn't have a single bad bone in her body'. They added that 'she was humble and chose a profession that reflected that'. The nurse had also reportedly married her partner last year, leaving her newly wed wife devastated. One friend told Manchester Evening News: 'Her wife can barely speak, she can't even call the police, she's beside herself. She's absolutely distraught.' The pilot and co-pilot, both Dutch, also died when a small aircraft exploded into a fireball moments after take-off. The international airport, near Southend–on–Sea in Essex, has been forced to cancel all flights and close 'until further notice' after Zeusch Aviation Flight SUZ1 crashed just before 4pm on Sunday. The Dutch company who operated the 12-metre plane also specialises in medijets and is based at Lelystad Airport, in the Netherlands, where the flight was heading. Ms Ortiz's loved ones have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover any unexpected costs of repatriating her body and any other complications with a death abroad. They wrote: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of our beloved Feña, in a tragic accident that is still under investigation by the authorities. 'We know that the pain is immense and shared by the many people who loved her and supported her at different stages of her life. 'In the midst of this difficult time, we want to organise ourselves to support her family. 'This process entails many unexpected expenses—transfers, paperwork, possible travel, and everything necessary to give her a proper send-off. 'We're starting this charity fundraiser among friends, colleagues, and those close to Feña. 'The idea is to raise funds that will then be donated directly to her family, so they can use them for whatever they deem most necessary. 'We will be fully transparent in our reporting of the contributions received and, if the family allows it, how the funds were used. 'Thank you so much for being here, for the love, for the support, and for everything each of you has done during these difficult days. 'We embrace everyone who loved us and we'll stay in touch to support each other and stay organised.' Essex Police chief superintendent Morgan Cronin confirmed earlier today that all four people onboard the plane were foreign nationals, however the identities have not been officially made public. Two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those on board, according to a document which lists passengers. 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. Zeusch Aviation is owned by IT millionaire Con Zwinkels, who also piloted a Boeing 747 for Martinair, according to Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to four people killed saying his 'thoughts are with their families and loved ones'. 'Yesterday afternoon, an aircraft which had landed here earlier in the day took off bound for the Netherlands,' Chief superintendent Morgan Cronin told a press conference this afternoon. '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 Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into what caused the Beech B200 Super King Air to suddenly plummet to the ground seconds after take-off. Chief superintendent Morgan Cronin continued: 'Our detectives and forensic teams are working in parallel with air accident investigators, the Royal Air Force, Essex Fire and Rescue Service and London Southend Airport to build an accurate picture of what happened. 'To aid our investigation, the Civil Aviation Authority has put in place a significant air exclusion zone surrounding the crash site. 'We're also speaking with dozens of witnesses, some of whom have already provided video footage, and we'd like to thank them for their help. I know this would be an extremely distressing scene for them. 'I know there will be a lot of questions about what happened here yesterday. We are doing all we can to establish the facts and get those answers.' Lisa Fitzsimons of the AAIB said at this stage 'it is too early to speculate' on what may have caused the plane crash. She said: 'Our focus is on gathering the physical evidence from the accident site and interviewing witnesses. 'The remains of the aircraft will then be recovered to our facility in Farnborough, Hampshire, for further detailed investigation.' Footage on social media shows a plume of fire and black smoke billowing into the air from the crash site, while witnesses described seeing the medical jet 'corkscrew' before erupting into a ball of flames. Ben Guppy, 34, who had taken his 15–month–old daughter to the fifth floor of a nearby Holiday Inn hotel to watch the planes take off and land, told MailOnline he saw the plane reach 'probably 50 metres off the runway' before it began tilting left. Describing the moment of impact, the wholesale director explained: 'My daughter was pointing at it and then it lifted to the left. The left wing came down, the ring wing came up. I thought 'He's keen to go left as soon as he takes off.' 'He's banking hard left and then the next thing you know, it's like another handbrake turn. He went left so violently and I thought 'What is he doing?' He was only about 100 metres up by this point. 'And then he corkscrewed upside down into the floor, the plane was only in the air for seconds. I looked at it and the fireball went up, there was fire and smoke everywhere. Luckily my daughter was facing the other way.' A plane 'corkscrewing' refers to the moment an aircraft rapidly spirals to towards the ground. The frantic moment a group of golfers, playing at the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club, rushed to the burning wreckage was also caught on camera. Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in The Netherlands, confirmed its SUZ1 flight had been 'involved in an accident' at Southend Airport. The statement said the company was 'actively supporting the authorities with the investigation', adding: 'Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.' Zeusch Aviation's website says the plane can be used for medical flights to transport patients or organs. It has also been deployed for aerial mapping flights. The plane had flown from the Greek capital Athens to Pula in Croatia on Sunday before heading to Southend. It was scheduled to return to Lelystad on Sunday night. London Southend Airport will remain 'closed until further notice' after a plane crashed shortly after taking off on Sunday, the airport's chief executive Jude Winstanley said. Speaking at a press conference at the airport, he 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. 'We are in constant dialog with our operating airlines, and as I'm sure everyone will understand, the airport will remain closed until further notice. Passengers should contact their airline for information and advice.' There were scheduled to be 20 easyJet flights and two Eastern Airways flights departing from or arriving at the airport on Monday. EasyJet said the company's remaining flights to and from the airport had been 'diverted to alternative airports or are no longer able to operate'. Witnesses have told of the terrifying moment the plane crashed into a fireball as they watched on in horror. Mr Guppy and his family, from Benfleet, Essex, have often made a trip out of going to the Holiday Inn at the airport, which has a bar and restaurant on the fifth floor with a window to watch the planes. The crowd in the bar began screaming, he recalled, while his own wife was distraught. The father told MailOnline: 'I just looked around like 'Am I dreaming?'. I turned to my wife Jess, who had her hands over her face. She was pretty much in tears. She's still pretty upset about it all.' Mr Guppy said they were 'about 500 metres away on the fifth floor, so it's not like we could help. We decided to get our daughter out of there'. He added: 'Driving home I did have a lump in my throat and goosebumps. Everyone was pulled over at the side of the road watching the smoke. 'On my way back I rang the police and told them what I'd seen. They told me they'd give me a call on Monday.' 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, told the PA news agency: '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.' He said he felt 'shaken up' and his thoughts were with the people on the plane and their loved ones. As a precaution, because of their proximity to the incident, police said they were evacuating the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club but rugby club chairman Pete Jones said it had not been necessary. 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.' In a post on X, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the incident as 'tragic', adding that her 'thoughts are with all those involved' and that she was 'monitoring the situation and closely receiving regular updates'. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Southend, Rayleigh Weir and Basildon, along with off road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended the incident. Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were also sent to the scene, the East of England Ambulance Service said. Posting 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.' An AAIB spokeswoman said: 'The AAIB has started an investigation into an accident involving an aircraft near Southend Airport which occurred yesterday afternoon. 'A multi-disciplinary team including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering and recorded data arrived at the accident site yesterday afternoon. Inquiries are ongoing today.' Southend Airport said the incident involved a 'general aviation aircraft' and the airport was 'working closely with the local authorities'. Essex Police have set up a dedicated public portal where people can contact them about the crash at:
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Doomed Southend Airport plane's final moments before it exploded
The haunting final moments of the doomed Southend Airport plane show it speeding up the runway before tragically exploding into a fireball just minutes later. All onboard the Zeusch Aviation Flight SUZ1 died after it crashed at the airport near London at around 4pm on Sunday. The international airport, near Southend–on–Sea in Essex, has since been forced to cancel all flights and close 'until further notice '. The 12–metre plane operated by the Dutch company Zeusch Aviation is owned by IT millionaire Con Zwinkels, who also piloted a Boeing 747 for Martinair, according to Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf. And the newly released footage shows the aircraft's final moments before the flight, headed for the Netherlands, descended into tragedy. All onboard the Zeusch Aviation Flight SUZ1 died after it crashed at the airport near London at around 4pm on Sunday. Essex Police chief superintendent Morgan Cronin yesterday confirmed that all four people who died onboard the plane were foreign nationals. Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz (pictured), a German citizen but born in Chile, was named as one of the foreign nationals who died when the jet 'corkscrewed' and burst into a ball of flames . It was yesterday revealed 31-year-old Ms Ortiz had worked as a nurse before but was on her first shift as a flight nurse, the BBC reported. Her friends, who called her Feña, have described her as the 'kindest soul' who 'didn't have a single bad bone in her body'. They added that 'she was humble and chose a profession that reflected that'. The nurse had also reportedly married her partner last year, leaving her newly wed wife devastated. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to all four people killed saying his 'thoughts are with their families and loved ones'. '[On Sunday] afternoon, an aircraft which had landed here earlier in the day took off bound for the Netherlands,' Chief superintendent Morgan Cronin told a press conference this afternoon. '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 Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into what caused the Beech B200 Super King Air to suddenly plummet to the ground seconds after take-off. Chief superintendent Morgan Cronin continued: 'Our detectives and forensic teams are working in parallel with air accident investigators, the Royal Air Force, Essex Fire and Rescue Service and London Southend Airport to build an accurate picture of what happened. 'To aid our investigation, the Civil Aviation Authority has put in place a significant air exclusion zone surrounding the crash site. We're also speaking with dozens of witnesses, some of whom have already provided video footage, and we'd like to thank them for their help. I know this would be an extremely distressing scene for them. I know there will be a lot of questions about what happened here [on Sunday]. We are doing all we can to establish the facts and get those answers.' Lisa Fitzsimons of the AAIB said at this stage 'it is too early to speculate' on what may have caused the plane crash. She said: 'Our focus is on gathering the physical evidence from the accident site and interviewing witnesses. 'The remains of the aircraft will then be recovered to our facility in Farnborough, Hampshire, for further detailed investigation.' Footage on social media shows a plume of fire and black smoke billowing into the air from the crash site, while witnesses described seeing the medical jet 'corkscrew' before erupting into a ball of flames. Ben Guppy, 34, who had taken his 15–month–old daughter to the fifth floor of a nearby Holiday Inn hotel to watch the planes take off and land, told MailOnline he saw the plane reach 'probably 50 metres off the runway' before it began tilting left. Describing the moment of impact, the wholesale director explained: 'My daughter was pointing at it and then it lifted to the left. The left wing came down, the ring wing came up. I thought 'He's keen to go left as soon as he takes off.' He added: 'He's banking hard left and then the next thing you know, it's like another handbrake turn. He went left so violently and I thought 'What is he doing?' He was only about 100 metres up by this point. And then he corkscrewed upside down into the floor, the plane was only in the air for seconds. I looked at it and the fireball went up, there was fire and smoke everywhere. Luckily my daughter was facing the other way.' A plane 'corkscrewing' refers to the moment an aircraft rapidly spirals to towards the ground. The frantic moment a group of golfers, playing at the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club, rushed to the burning wreckage was also caught on camera. Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in The Netherlands, confirmed its SUZ1 flight had been 'involved in an accident' at Southend Airport. The statement said the company was 'actively supporting the authorities with the investigation', adding: 'Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.' Zeusch Aviation's website says the plane can be used for medical flights to transport patients or organs. It has also been deployed for aerial mapping flights. The plane had flown from the Greek capital Athens to Pula in Croatia on Sunday before heading to Southend. It was scheduled to return to Lelystad on Sunday night. London Southend Airport will remain 'closed until further notice' after a plane crashed shortly after taking off on Sunday, the airport's chief executive Jude Winstanley said.
