Witnesses at Southend Airport described how pilots were ‘waving’ to passengers, including children, just moments before take off, with the jet then crashing ‘head first’ into the ground
The pilots of a small plane that crashed in a ‘huge fireball’ this afternoon were spotted waving at children just moments before the horror crash, according to a witness.
The Beech B200 Super King Air, operated by Zeusch Aviation, crashed at Southend Airport in Essex this afternoon, shortly after take off. The medical transport jet was en route to Lelystad in the Netherlands, where Zeusch Aviation is based, having landed at Southend from Pula in Croatia. One man, who was at the airport with his wife and children, explained how he saw a “big fireball” after the plane crashed “head first into the ground.”
Follow our blog for all the latest updates
John Johnson, from Billericay, added that adults and kids alike had been waving to the pilots just minutes before the crash. He 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 it 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. All the kids saw it and the families saw it. I phoned 999, reported it.”
He added: “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.”
Essex Police confirmed that the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were both evacuated due to their proximity to the crash. A bartender at the golf club, which is next door to the airport, saidf he felt a “big heat wave” before looking up to a “massive fireball” in the sky.
Speaking to the BBC, James Philpott said: “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 went on to say: “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 at a “safe distance” with the club closed. 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.”
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.”