A light passenger aircraft has crashed shortly after takeoff from London Southend Airport, according to reports. The incident, which was captured on video and shared on social media, occurred around 16:00 local time on Sunday. Thick smoke was observed rising from a field near the runway, with photos allegedly taken moments after the crash showing a significant explosion and a large fireball.
Emergency services have been dispatched to the scene, including four ambulances, four hazardous area response team vehicles, and an air ambulance. The police have evacuated nearby golf clubs and rugby clubs as a precautionary measure due to their proximity to the crash site. Southend Airport and the Essex police have confirmed the incident, but there has been no official confirmation of casualties yet.
The aircraft, which was scheduled to fly to Lelystad in the Netherlands, was operated by Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch company specializing in medical evacuation services and transplant flights. The aircraft’s operator, Zeusch Aviation, is known for its operations in both medical and private charter sectors. The flight was heading to a location in the Netherlands, indicating that the aircraft was part of a scheduled operation rather than a private one.