Emergency services were deployed to London Southend Airport on Sunday following a small aircraft crash that caused the suspension of all flight operations.
According to a report by CNN, information regarding the aircraft’s intended destination and the number of passengers onboard has not yet been disclosed.
The airport confirmed the development through its official social media handle, stating that a “serious incident” had taken place involving a general aviation aircraft.
As a result, all inbound and outbound flights have been suspended until further notice while emergency personnel and air accident investigators continue their work at the crash site.
British media outlets identified the aircraft as a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air—a medical transport jet equipped with onboard medical facilities and reportedly bound for the Netherlands.
Shortly after the incident, images and videos surfaced online, showing thick black smoke and flames rising from the wreckage. The aircraft is said to be approximately 12 meters (39 feet) long.
Eyewitness John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family at the time, described the crash. “It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head-first into the ground,” he said. “There was a big fireball.”
Johnson also recalled a moment of brief connection with the crew before takeoff. “They all waved back at us,” he noted. He described how the airport’s emergency team responded almost immediately, with two fire engines rushing to the scene, followed by police, paramedics, and additional firefighting crews.
Essex Police confirmed they were alerted just before 4 p.m. local time and are currently working alongside other emergency responders.
“We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours,” the police said in a statement.
David Burton-Sampson, the Member of Parliament representing the area, called on the public to steer clear of the location to allow emergency teams to operate without obstruction. “My thoughts are with everyone involved,” he added.
