London Southend Airport is currently closed following a tragic plane crash that occurred on Sunday, as confirmed by Chief Executive Jude Winstanley during a press conference.
At approximately 16:00 BST, Essex Police received reports of a small aircraft that was on fire at the northern end of the airport. The 12-meter plane, operated by the Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, was on flight SUZ1. The company has acknowledged the incident and indicated that they are working in conjunction with the authorities.
The aircraft had taken off from Athens, made a stop in Pula, Croatia, and was headed to Lelystad, Netherlands, with Southend as a scheduled stop.
Eyewitness John Johnson from Billericay recounted witnessing the plane crash “head first into the ground,” resulting in a “huge fireball.” He noted that the aircraft sharply banked to the left shortly after takeoff—an unusual maneuver—before it inverted and subsequently crashed.
Emergency services acted promptly. Fire crews from Southend, Rayleigh Weir, Basildon, and surrounding areas responded, aided by off-road vehicles. The East of England Ambulance Service sent multiple units, including air ambulances and Hazardous Area Response Teams.
Sadly, all four individuals on board the aircraft lost their lives. Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin confirmed that the victims are believed to be foreign nationals, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.
An investigation is currently in progress to ascertain the cause of the crash. The airport will remain closed until further notice.
