Southend Airport closed after small plane crash: Here’s what happened

A tragic scene unfolded on Sunday afternoon at London Southend Airport as a small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, erupting into a fireball that brought all airport operations to a halt and left witnesses in shock.

The aircraft, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by Zeusch Aviation, took off from the Essex airport at approximately 3:48 PM, bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands. Within seconds of lifting off, the plane banked sharply to the left, appeared to invert, and then plummeted into the ground, exploding on impact.

Horror in the Skies

John Johnson, a local resident from Billericay, was at the airport with his family and witnessed the crash. “We all waved at the pilots, and they waved back,” he said. “The aircraft then turned, powered up, and took off. Just seconds later, it banked heavily to the left and went down headfirst. It all happened so fast. Then there was a huge fireball. Everyone was just in shock.”

Dramatic video footage and images posted to social media showed thick plumes of black smoke rising from the crash site, visible from nearby areas, including Rochford Hundred Golf Club, which was later evacuated as a precaution.

Emergency Response and Airport Lockdown

Emergency services responded within minutes. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service dispatched four fire crews and off-road vehicles, while the East of England Ambulance Service sent multiple ambulances and Hazardous Area Response Teams. An air ambulance was also deployed to the scene.

Wren Stranix, 16, from Woodbridge, was waiting to depart on a flight to Newquay when the crash occurred. “We saw the smoke from our aircraft. The flight attendant didn’t know what was happening. The airport went into lockdown, and we weren’t allowed off the plane,” she said.

Eventually, all passengers were returned to the terminal, but operations were suspended. EasyJet confirmed that all flights to and from Southend were either canceled or diverted. Southend Airport remains closed until further notice.

Investigation Underway

Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch company known for its medical evacuation and transplant flights, confirmed that flight SUZ1 was involved in the accident. The aircraft was equipped with medical systems, but it remains unclear whether it was operating a medical mission at the time or how many people were on board.

“We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation,” the company stated. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.”

Essex Police have yet to release any details on casualties. They have asked the public to avoid the area as their investigation continues alongside emergency services and air accident investigators.

Community Reacts

The incident has sent ripples through the local community and aviation circles alike. David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, urged the public to stay clear of the area and expressed his concern for those involved: “Please allow emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Meanwhile, aviation enthusiasts and families who had gathered at the airport for leisure or travel were left shaken. “It’s just devastating,” said one witness on X (formerly Twitter). “I was waving to the crew just moments before.”

Southend Airport is working to assess the damage and resume operations as soon as possible. Passengers scheduled to fly in the coming days are being urged to contact their airlines for the latest information.

As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about what caused the sudden loss of control after takeoff. For now, the focus remains on supporting the emergency response and those affected by this deeply saddening event.