A twin-engine Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft, used for medical transportation, crashed in a fireball shortly after takeoff from Southend Airport on Sunday, July 13. Operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation, the plane was en route to Lelystad in the Netherlands.
The incident occurred just minutes after departure, prompting an immediate response from Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, and airport authorities. The number of people on board or their condition has not been officially confirmed.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane rise into the air before suddenly banking left and plummeting to the ground. One airport bartender described a wave of heat followed by “a massive fireball.” Another witness, who was a passenger on a departing flight, said their crew looked stunned. “We didn’t know what was happening,” they said. “Someone on board said a plane had exploded.” People, who were near the airport at the time, described the aircraft crashing “head first into the ground.”
Another man, who had been watching planes with his family, said it all happened within seconds and felt like a “nightmare.” Southend Airport has immediately been locked down. EasyJet, which operates from the airport, cancelled several departures and rerouted incoming flights to Gatwick and Stansted.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has begun an investigation, with black box recovery and flight path analysis underway. Zeusch Aviation issued a statement confirming the crash and said they are cooperating fully with authorities. The company, known for operating specialized medical and charter flights, has not released further details about the crew or passengers.
The crash marks one of the most serious aviation incidents at Southend Airport in recent years,which only raises questions as to who is responsible for the loss of the aircraft and the passenger’s lives. As of now, thorough investigations are underway.
✈️ BREAKING:
PLANE CRASHES AT LONDON'S SOUTHEND AIRPORT, LARGE FIREBALL WITNESSED BY MANY PEOPLE.
WORD ON CASUALTIES OR INJURIES IS YET UNKNOWN. pic.twitter.com/a3OTW3eNvf
— SVS NEWS AGENCY (@svsnewsagency) July 13, 2025
