A light Beechcraft B200 aircraft crashed shortly after departing from London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, according to local authorities. The crash occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time in Essex and was captured on video by nearby witnesses.
Footage posted to social media shows dense black smoke billowing into the sky from a field adjacent to the runway. Several images taken in the aftermath display a massive fireball, indicating a powerful explosion occurred on impact.
The exact number of people on board has yet to be confirmed. Both Southend Airport and Essex Police have acknowledged the crash, but no official statement regarding casualties has been made. “We were called shortly before 4 p.m. following reports of an incident involving a 12-meter aircraft. All emergency services are present at the scene, and operations will continue for several hours,” the police said in a press release.
Emergency services deployed multiple resources, including four ambulances, an air ambulance, and specialized hazardous area response teams. As a precautionary measure, nearby facilities such as the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated.
According to UK media, the aircraft was en route to Lelystad in the Netherlands. Aviation tracking platforms show the operator as Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch firm providing services such as medical evacuation, transplant transport, and private charter flights.
London Southend Airport is located approximately 60 kilometers east of central London. Investigations into the cause of the crash are currently underway.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS: A devastating plane crash occurred at London Southend Airport, UK.
A Beechcraft Super King Air light aircraft crashed and exploded into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff, Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene of black smoke and flames, prompting a… pic.twitter.com/9KrHzfgkeg
— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) July 13, 2025
