A tragic scene unfolds minutes after takeoff.
Four people have tragically lost their lives as a small Beechcraft B200 medical transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff from London Southend Airport.
The aircraft, operating Zeusch Aviation’s SUZ1 flight, spiraled sharply, inverted, and hit the ground in a massive fireball around 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Authorities swiftly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.
Essex Police, Essex County Fire & Rescue, multiple ambulance units, a rapid response team, and an air ambulance rushed to the site.
Their immediate actions included evacuating nearby golf and sports clubs, including the Rochford Hundred Golf Club, for safety.
London Southend Airport has suspended all flight operations indefinitely. Passengers departing or arriving on Monday are urged to contact their airlines for updates.
Eyewitnesses described how the plane “banked heavily to its left” before flipping and crashing nose-first, erupting into a huge plume of fire and smoke.
One onlooker said:
“We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back… then it banked, inverted, and crashed headfirst… There was a huge fireball.”
Another nearby witness at the golf club recalled feeling a sudden heatwave before seeing black smoke rising high into the sky.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has deployed a full investigation team including experts in aircraft operations, engineering, human factors, and data recorder analysis to determine the cause of the crash.
Essex Police are collaborating closely with the AAIB and have asked the public to avoid the area until the scene is declared safe.
Local MP David Burton‑Sampson posted on social media urging the public to clear the area and allow emergency services to work.
Airport officials said they will resume operations as soon as investigations permit and continue to provide updates.
