London, July 13 — What started as an ordinary Sunday afternoon at London Southend Airport quickly turned into a scene of devastation and disbelief. A Beechcraft B200 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff around 4 p.m., erupting into flames and sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky, visible for miles. Authorities have since confirmed the crash.
The small aircraft was en route to Lelystad in the Netherlands. Onlookers, some of whom had just seen the plane lift off moments earlier, were left shaken. A post by ESN Report on X (formerly Twitter) captured the raw emotion: “Just witnessed a Beechcraft crash on take-off at Southend airport… Absolutely tragic. Was waving to the aircrew just moments before.”
Emergency responders were quick to arrive. The East of England Ambulance Service dispatched four teams, including a hazardous area response unit, while Essex County Fire and Rescue deployed four fire engines and specialized off-road vehicles. Police declared the situation a “serious incident” and have cordoned off the area for ongoing investigations.
David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, urged the public to give space for emergency services to work: “My thoughts are with everyone involved.”
Essex Police evacuated nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club as a precaution, due to their proximity to the crash site. One witness at the rugby club said a local event was underway when the incident occurred, adding to the tension and confusion.
Matt Dent, a Southend City Council member, echoed the community’s concern: “My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident.”
So far, no official word has been given about the number of passengers on board or the condition of those involved. Meanwhile, the airport cancelled four flights scheduled for later that afternoon.
The investigation is still active, with emergency crews expected to remain on-site for several hours.
