Small Jet Crash At London Southend Airport Sparks Fireball and Chaos

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London: Shortly after takeoff from Southend Airport in Essex, a small business jet crashed on Sunday afternoon. Pictures of the scene depict a big fireball at the crash site, where a twin-engine turboprop Beech B200 Super King Air has crashed in a field near the runway. Another consequent event was the shadowing of plumes of black smoke in the air. Eyewitnesses told of scenes of complete pandemonium and mass panic following the crash of a plane that went down around 4pm (1800 GMT) local time, just less than ten minutes after taking off for Lelystad in the Netherlands.

Passengers and onlookers were not spared, as they could be seen in videos and photographs circulating on social media as well as a huge fire at the crash site. One woman told reporters, I saw the huge ball of fire through the window; I am still shaking. Another said the incident was a loud bang and that a mass panic took place at the scene. The fireball could be seen at least some miles away, on both Southend Pier and Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club; both of these were evacuated.

The crash was responded to by Essex Police and the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, and five crews and two off-road vehicles were sent to the airport. Two London ambulances and an air ambulance were deployed as well as surrounding ambulances. A police spokesperson said Essex Police, including fire and rescue, ambulance, and air ambulance, is on the scene. Our officers are in place, securing the area, and our thoughts are with all the people concerned.

Suspending air traffic control, easyJet memorialised flight cancellations in the afternoon at Southend Airport and other aspects of traffic. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch will conduct an investigation into the cause of the plane’s crash. However, the precise cause is unknown, but in the past, the Beech B200 incidents were associated with engine failure or flight control trouble.

Southend West MP David Burton-Sampson released his condolence message on X (previously Twitter), saying, My thoughts are with the people involved in the incident at Southend Airport. Please avoid the area and leave emergency services alone.” They did not comment further on Sunday evening, with Essex Police saying that they would issue further information.

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