Four people dead after plane 'violently' smashed to the ground and erupted into fireball at UK airport
Four people are understood to have died in a plane crash at London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, according to an update from PA.
Yesterday (13 June) a 12-metre plane was departing from London Southend Airport when it crashed into the ground just moments after take-off.
The aircraft, a Beech B200 Super King Air operated by Zeusch Aviation and using the call sign SUZ1 - was heading to Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.
Videos taken from witnesses in the immediate aftermath of the crash revealed a large fireball rising into the sky near the airport's runway.
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Essex police have since confirmed they are working with the Air Accident Investigation Branch to determine the cause of the crash and asked the public to avoid the area for now.
What happened at Southend Airport?
At roughly 4pm BST flight SUZ1 departed from the airport and appeared to bank sharply left, according to numerous witness reports. Tracking data from Flight Radar, the aircraft crashed just moments after lift-off.
The plane involved in the crash was a Beech B200 Super King Air, which are commonly used for short haul charter flights or medical evacuations.
According to an initial report by the The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, flight SUZ1 'rolled to the left' while in its initial climb before beginning an 'uncontrolled' descent and crashing close to the runway.
The report also confirmed that the four casualties were two crew members and two passengers onboard the aircraft, with everyone now accounted for.
Southend Airport remains closed until further notice, with Essex Police set to hold a press conference later today.
Meanwhile witnesses close to the airport have spoken out about seeing the horrifying crash unfold, describing the crash as a 'huge fireball'.
"It took off in probably three or four seconds... Within a few seconds of that, the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball," witness John Johnson explained to the BBC.
"He was only about 100 metres up by this point," a second witness, named Ben Guppy told MailOnline.
"And then he corkscrewed upside down into the floor, the plane was only in the air for seconds."
In a statement to LADbible, London Southend Airport previously said: "Due to a serious incident at London Southend Airport, we regret to advise that the Airport is closed until further notice. All flights to and from the Airport have been cancelled while Police, emergency services and air accident investigators are attending the incident.
"Our thoughts are with those affected by today’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."
Topics: UK News
Brenna Cooper