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What Happened
• At approximately 3:48 pm BST, a 12-metre Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation (callsign SUZ1) crashed mere seconds after departing runway 05 at Southend Airport.
• Witnesses reported violent bank and inversion, before the plane plunged nose-first and erupted into a massive fireball and plume of black smoke.
Casualties
• All four people aboard were killed: two Dutch crew (pilot and co‑pilot) and two medical professionals, including 31‑year‑old German‑Chilean nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, who had recently begun her role as a flight nurse.
• All victims were non‑British nationals; police work to confirm identities continues.
Airport Status & Disruptions
• Southend Airport is closed until further notice, with all flights cancelled or diverted to nearby airports such as Gatwick and Stansted.
• Airlines including easyJet and Eastern Airways have cancelled services; travellers are advised to contact their carriers for arrangements. No automatic compensation is offered, though travel insurance may help cover costs.
Emergency Response
• The Essex Police, working with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), RAF, and Essex Fire & Rescue Service, responded within minutes of the incident report.
• Emergency deployment included four fire crews, off-road vehicles, four ambulances, paramedic teams, hazardous response teams, and Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.
• A large safety exclusion zone is in place around the crash site, cordoned off for public safety and to aid investigators.
Ongoing Investigation
• AAIB has launched a formal safety investigation, deploying inspectors specialized in operations, human factors, engineering, and data recorder analysis.
• Aviation experts will examine wreckage, flight data, and eyewitness testimony, with a view to issuing safety recommendations if applicable ().
• The Civil Aviation Authority has also enforced an airspace exclusion zone over the site.
Community Impact and Reactions
• Local residents, including families, golfers at nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club, and nearby rugby club members, described scenes of horror and shock at witnessing the crash and fireball.
• David Burton‑Sampson, the MP for Southend West, urged the public to stay clear and allow emergency services to carry out investigations.,
• Southend Airport’s CEO, Jude Winstanley, offered condolences to the grieving families and thanked local emergency teams, confirming the closure and disruption caused.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his sympathies; a GoFundMe campaign has been set up in memory of Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz.
Why It Matters
• The Beechcraft Super King Air B200, a workhorse of medical transport and charter roles, has previously been involved in fatal incidents, including one in Melbourne in 2017.
• The crash disrupts operations at a small but strategically important regional airport, affecting passengers and local air traffic during the peak holiday season, with no known reopening date.
Next Steps & What to Expect
1. AAIB will publish preliminary findings once site examination and witness interviews are complete.
2. Essex Police continues the criminal inquiry and identity confirmation of the victims.
3. Airport reopening plans will depend on the investigation’s outcome and safety assessments.
4. Passengers due to travel via Southend should remain in touch with their airlines or travel agents for updates.
In Summary
This tragedy has led to the death of four crew and medical personnel aboard a medical transport aircraft, prompting the closure of Southend Airport until further notice. The multi-agency investigation aims to uncover the cause, while the local community and aviation industry mourn the loss. The full report and future actions remain pending.
Attached is a news article regarding Southend airport crash
https://news.sky.com/story/fireball-at-southend-airport-after-small-plane-crashes-13396214
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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