LONDON (AP) - A tragic aviation incident occurred when a small plane crashed shortly after taking off from London Southend Airport, resulting in the death of all four individuals on board. Essex Police confirmed the fatalities on Monday, indicating that the victims were in the process of being formally identified. According to Police Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin, initial investigations suggest that all four individuals are foreign nationals.
Reports from Britain’s national news agency, PA, have disclosed that the passengers included two pilots from the Netherlands and a nurse from Chile. The aircraft in question, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, was operated by the Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation. Prior to its departure from Southend, the plane had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, and was scheduled to return to its base in Lelystad, Netherlands, on Sunday evening.
The incident unfolded shortly after takeoff, as the 12-meter (39-foot) turboprop aircraft crashed and erupted into flames. In a statement regarding the ongoing investigation, Lisa Fitzsimons from Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch commented on the early stages of the inquiry, stating, “At this stage, it is too early to speculate on what may have caused this tragic accident.” The agency dispatched a multi-disciplinary team of inspectors who possess expertise in various areas including aircraft operations, human factors, engineering, and recorded data analysis to the site of the crash.
London Southend Airport, located approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of central London, is recognized as a smaller airport typically accommodating short-haul flights. Following the crash, the airport was closed, and authorities have not provided information on when it might reopen.
Zeusch Aviation specializes in medical evacuation and transplant flights, alongside services in aerial mapping and private charters, as outlined on the company's website. They expressed their condolences, stating, “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air is known as an aviation workhorse that has been utilized in various capacities globally since its introduction in the 1970s. Notably, this aircraft type was involved in a tragic accident in 2017 when a plane of the same model crashed into a shopping mall in Melbourne, Australia, shortly after takeoff, resulting in the death of the pilot and four American tourists.
