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Southend-on-Sea, UK – July 13, 2025 : – A peaceful Sunday afternoon at London Southend Airport was horribly converted into a disaster scene today after a Zeusch Aviation Beechcraft B200 Super King Air plane crashed in a catastrophic “massive fireball” seconds after its planned departure. All passengers aboard the Netherlands-registered medical transport plane were killed in the gruesome accident, causing shock waves in the local community and aviation world.
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| Eyewitness footage shows the plane engulfed in flames moments after takeoff. |
The doomed plane, a twin-turboprop Beechcraft B200 approximately 12 meters (39 feet) in length, departed at 3:48 PM BST, bound for Lelystad, Netherlands. But its journey ended in disaster. Witness reports describe the last few seconds in horror: the aircraft apparently banked hard left, inverted, and then dived uncontrollably, crashing into the ground in an enormous explosion that made little of what exactly had happened.
The initial aftermath was in disarray. “I looked up and there was just a huge fireball essentially 100 ft in the air,” recalled James Philpott, the bartender at the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club, who said he felt a rush of searing heat from the impact. Another witness, John Johnson, mirrored the horrific scene, describing how the plane “banked, inverted, crashed headfirst, and exploded in a big fireball,” emphasizing the abrupt and violent nature of the crash.
Southend Airport quickly activated its emergency procedure, calling out a multi-agency response. Essex Police, Essex County Fire & Rescue, with four specialized fire units, and the East of England Ambulance Service, with four ambulances, hazardous response teams, and an air ambulance, rushed to the site. The fact that all these services were activated quickly highlighted the severity of the event. As a precautionary measure, the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and the Westcliff Rugby Club, which are situated in near proximity to the crash location, were evacuated immediately to maintain public safety and allow emergency operations.
The air traffic impact at the Southend Airport was pronounced. During the incident, all the other flights of the day were cancelled, resulting in significant inconvenience for air travelers. Four EasyJet flights were either diverted to other terminals or cancelled outright, inconveniencing hundreds of passengers. Airport officials expect regular operation to resume on Monday, but the large investigation required at the accident scene is likely to keep part of the airport access closed throughout the weekend.
The Beechcraft B200 involved in the accident is a wide-range aircraft commonly used for medical evacuation or organ transplant flights because of its speed and ability. As flight-tracking data suggests, the aircraft hit a height of only approximately 175 feet before its fatal plunge, the mission purpose of this particular flight is not confirmed by Zeusch Aviation.
Attention now turns to the thorough investigation that will identify the reasons for this tragedy. Essex Police categorized the incident as a “serious incident,” and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has led the investigation into the events leading up to the crash. Inquirers will thoroughly scrutinize all the evidence available to them, such as flight recorders (if they are recovered and intact), the debris strewn around the site, and thorough witness accounts. The site of the accident is closely sealed off as a crime scene and for forensic analysis to ensure that every aspect is left intact to ascertain what caused this tragic crash.
The definitive loss of all passengers and crew is a deep and serious aspect. Although preliminary reports were mixed regarding the exact number of travelers, it has been concluded that there were, in fact, no survivors. The aviation industry and public wait patiently for more information as the AAIB continues to look for answers and try to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Our sincerest condolences are for the families, friends, and colleagues of all victims who lost their lives in this tragic event.
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