Sonali Tiwary
A small medical transport aircraft crashed in a dramatic fireball seconds after taking off from London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, forcing the indefinite closure of the airport and triggering a massive emergency response.
The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, operated by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, crashed at approximately 3:58 PM local time on July 13, 2025. The 12-meter turboprop aircraft had been on a multi-leg journey from Athens, Greece, through Pula, Croatia, to Southend, and was heading to Lelystad in the Netherlands when the accident occurred.
In a particularly poignant detail captured by eyewitnesses, the pilots had friendly interactions with onlookers just moments before the crash. John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, described the heartbreaking sequence of events.
“We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us,” Johnson told reporters. “The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its takeoff, powered up, rolled down the runway. It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head first into the ground. There was a big fireball.”
The impact produced thick black smoke visible from considerable distance. James Philpott, a bartender at the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club, felt the heat from the explosion even without seeing the crash itself.
“I felt like a big heatwave come through, and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 feet in the sky,” Philpott told the BBC. “It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there.”
Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene. Essex Police were alerted just before 4 PM, while Essex County Fire and Rescue Service dispatched multiple units, including fire crews from Southend, Rayleigh Weir, Basildon, Billericay, and Chelmsford. The East of England Ambulance Service sent four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response teams, three senior paramedic cars, and air ambulances.
Similar Posts:
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of people aboard the aircraft or the extent of casualties. Zeusch Aviation specializes in medical evacuation services and organ transport, and the aircraft was equipped with medical systems, though it remained unclear whether a patient was on board at the time of the crash.
The accident has caused significant disruption to air travel. All flights to and from Southend Airport were immediately canceled, with at least ten easyJet flights grounded on Sunday and Monday morning, affecting approximately 1,700 passengers. Under air passenger rights rules, easyJet must provide alternative transport, hotel accommodations, and meals where necessary.
As a safety precaution, nearby establishments including the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated. Police have established a wide cordon around the crash site, which will remain in place overnight and into Monday morning.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has taken the lead in investigating the cause of the crash, working in collaboration with Essex Police. Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin of Essex Police emphasized the importance of the investigation: “We are working closely with all at the scene, as well as the Air Accident Investigation Branch, to establish what has happened today and why.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated she is “monitoring the situation closely” and receiving “regular updates.” Both Alexander and local MP David Burton-Sampson expressed their condolences and support for those affected by the tragedy.
Zeusch Aviation confirmed in a statement that their flight SUZ1 was involved in the accident. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected,” the company said, adding that they are cooperating fully with authorities.
The Beech B200 Super King Air model is generally known for its versatility and is commonly used for medical transport, private charters, and short-haul flights. The investigation’s findings will be crucial for understanding what led to this rare and tragic event. Essex Police have opened a dedicated online portal and phone line for anyone with information about the crash as the investigation continues.
