Horrific Fiery Crash: Medical Plane Plummets After London Takeoff, Airport Shuts Down

Witnesses describe a scene of chaos and a "big fireball" after a small medical transport plane crashed shortly after taking off from London Southend Airport on Sunday. The dramatic incident, captured in social media videos showing a plume of thick black smoke, has led to the complete closure of the airport as emergency services and air accident investigators descend upon the scene.

The aircraft, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, approximately 12 meters long and equipped for patient transport, was operated by Netherlands-based Zeusch Aviation. Its journey earlier in the day had taken it from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, and then to Southend. The plane was reportedly scheduled to return to Lelystad in the Netherlands that evening.

Zeusch Aviation has confirmed that their flight SUZ1 was involved in the tragic accident and stated they are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. In a statement, the company expressed, "Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected."

All flights at Southend Airport, situated about 72 kilometers east of London, have been canceled indefinitely as police, fire, ambulance, and air accident investigation teams meticulously examine the crash site.

Eyewitness John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, recounted the terrifying moments. "It took off and about three or four seconds later, it started turning sharply to the left. Then it flipped and crashed head-first into the ground," he described, adding that he saw a "big fireball" upon impact. In a poignant detail, Johnson also mentioned waving to the pilots before takeoff, who waved back.

Essex Police confirmed they were alerted to a "serious incident" just before 4 PM on Sunday. As of now, authorities have not released any official information regarding potential injuries or fatalities, leaving the public awaiting crucial updates.