Small plane crash closes Southend airport ‘until further notice’

Passengers due to use Southend airport have been advised to check with their airline after a small aircraft crashed on take off on Sunday.

 

The airport confirmed last night that it was closed “until further notice” due to a serious incident involving a general aviation aircraft.

 

“All flights to and from the airport have been cancelled while police, emergency services and air accident investigators are attending the incident, “ a statement issued a 9.40pm said.

 

“We ask that any passengers due to travel tomorrow (Monday, July 14) via London Southend Airport contact their airline for information and advice.

 

“Our thoughts are with those affected by today’s events and all passengers impacted by this disruption.

 

"We will restart flight operations as soon as possible and will continue to update the public on developments.”

 

In a further update, the airport said that all flights to and from the airport have been re-routed today.

 

The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air B200 medical transport twin turboprop was returning to Lelystad in the Netherlands, where it is based. It had flown from Pula, Croatia, to Southend on Sunday morning.

 

Dutch operating company Zeusch Aviation said: “We can confirm that Zeusch Aviation flight SUZ1 was involved in an accident at London Southend airport.  

 

“We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.  

 

“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.”

 

EasyJet is the main airline operating from Southend airport, with the airport departure board showing early morning flights cancelled to Palma, Malta and Pisa.  

 

However, a flight to Dalaman at 1.55pm and others this afternoon, including an Eastern Airways service to Newquay, were scheduled as being on time.  

 

Essex Police said on Sunday: “All emergency services attended the scene of an incident involving one plane at about 4pm, shortly after the plane had taken off.

“Flights at the airport were quickly grounded to ensure work could immediately begin on extinguishing the flames as quickly as possible.

“We have put a wide cordon in place to ensure all our emergency service colleagues can carry out their work safely, and we will be doing so overnight and into tomorrow morning.

“The public are asked to avoid the area while this work is carried out.”

 

Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin added: “In these very early stages it is vital we gather the information we need, and continue supporting the people of Essex.

“We are working closely with all at the scene, as well as the Air Accident Investigation Branch, to establish what has happened and why.

 

“I fully appreciate the desire for more information in this matter, and we will share as much as we can, when we can, throughout our work.

 

“But it is vital for all involved that this investigation is carried out thoroughly and correctly, and to do that we will all need time.”