London Southend Airport Plane Crash: What We Know So Far
London Southend Airport remains closed until further notice following a devastating plane crash on Sunday afternoon that sent a massive fireball into the sky and brought flight operations to a standstill.
The crash, which occurred shortly after 4:00 PM BST on July 13, involved a Beechcraft King Air B200, a twin-turboprop aircraft capable of carrying up to 6 passengers and 2 crew.
🚨🇬🇧 BREAKING: PLANE CRASH AT LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT
A Beechcraft Super King Air light aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from London Southend Airport, erupting into a massive fireball visible from the terminal.
Police confirm a “serious incident” and are coordinating with… pic.twitter.com/vBGt7yAqQy
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 13, 2025
According to Essex Police, the aircraft plummeted shortly after takeoff, crashing just beyond the airport perimeter and erupting into flames. Authorities have declared a “serious incident” and launched a full investigation in coordination with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
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The plane, operated by Zeusch Aviation, had taken off from Southend bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands. In a statement, the Dutch-based charter company confirmed that the aircraft involved was on flight SUZ1 and expressed its support for the ongoing investigation. “We are actively supporting the authorities,” the company said, adding, “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.”
Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes. John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, told The Independent he saw a “big fireball” as the aircraft hit the ground. Another witness, James Philpott, a bartender at a nearby golf club, told the BBC, “I felt a big heat wave, and looked up to see a massive fireball about 100 feet in the sky. It was shocking — people started running toward the crash site.”
Flight tracking data confirms the aircraft was a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, a high-performance US-manufactured aircraft priced at approximately £1.47 million.
The aircraft cruises at a speed of around 285 miles per hour and is frequently used for executive transport, aerial survey, and medical missions, including organ transport and patient transfers, according to Zeusch Aviation’s website.
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The crash caused significant disruption to passenger services. EasyJet, the main commercial carrier operating out of Southend, confirmed that ten flights were cancelled between Sunday evening and Monday morning.
These included routes to Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Malta, and Pisa. An estimated 1,700 passengers have been affected, with the airline offering alternative transport, refunds, and accommodations under EU air passenger rights regulations.
Several inbound EasyJet flights were diverted to other London airports, including Gatwick and Stansted, due to the emergency closure of Southend’s airspace.
Emergency services, including Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service, and airport fire crews, responded swiftly to the crash site. A black column of smoke was seen rising from the crash site in videos circulating on social media. As of now, authorities have not released official information about the number of casualties or survivors.
Essex Police have also launched a public information portal for witnesses and the public to submit photos, videos, or tips that may aid the investigation.
The AAIB is expected to lead the technical investigation into the cause of the crash, which may take weeks or months to complete. Initial focus will be on the aircraft’s flight data, maintenance history, and communications with air traffic control. Southend Airport has not indicated when operations will resume. Until further details emerge, many questions remain unanswered.
(With Inputs from The Independent)
