A business aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff at London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a large fireball and thick smoke visible for miles.
According to local authorities, the aircraft — identified as a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air — was departing for Lelystad, Netherlands, when it went down around 4 p.m. local time. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames and hearing a loud explosion as the aircraft hit the ground near the runway area.
Emergency services, including Essex Police, airport fire crews, and ambulance units, quickly arrived at the scene. Local facilities such as the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated as a precaution. Officials urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency teams full access.
As of Sunday evening, authorities had not released details on the number of passengers or confirmed any casualties. The incident is being treated as a major emergency, and response operations were ongoing.
Airport operations in the affected area were temporarily suspended, with potential delays and diversions for scheduled flights. The broader investigation into the cause of the crash will be led by UK aviation safety regulators, who are expected to examine possible technical malfunctions, pilot actions, and weather conditions.
The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air is a twin-turboprop aircraft commonly used for business travel and can carry up to 12 passengers.
Officials stated that updates on casualties and flight disruptions would be provided as soon as more information becomes available.
