A small aircraft crashed at London Southend Airport. Representational picture | Photo Credit: Reuters
No particulars on the place the aircraft was heading or how many individuals have been on board have been instantly disclosed.
In a press release on social media, the airport confirmed a “severe incident” involving what it termed a normal aviation plane.
Images posted on social media present a plume of fireside and black smoke emanating from the crash website. The aircraft concerned is claimed to be 12 metres (39 ft) lengthy.
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Witness John Johnson, who was on the airport together with his household, mentioned he noticed a “large fireball” after the aircraft “crashed head first into the bottom.” “It took off and about three or 4 seconds after taking off, it began to financial institution closely to its left, after which inside just a few seconds of that occuring, it kind of inverted and crashed simply head-first into the bottom,” he mentioned.
“There was an enormous fireball.” Johnson mentioned that earlier than the aircraft acquired into place for take-off, he and his household waved on the pilots and “all of them waved again at us.” After the crash, Johnson mentioned the airport’s hearth service responded right away, with two hearth engines despatched to the crash website, adopted by native police, ambulance and hearth providers.
Essex Police mentioned it was alerted simply earlier than 4 pm native time to the “severe incident” on the comparatively small airport, which is round 45 miles (72 kilometres) east of the capital.
“We are working with all emergency providers on the scene now and that work can be ongoing for a number of hours,” Essex Police mentioned.
As a precaution as a result of their proximity to the incident, police evacuated a neighborhood golf membership and rugby membership.
The native member of Parliament, David Burton-Sampson, urged folks to remain away and let the emergency providers do their work.
“My ideas are with everybody concerned,” he mentioned.
According to the airport’s web site, 4 flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon have been cancelled.
Published – July 13, 2025 10:41 pm IST
