Plane crashes shortly after taking off near the outskirts of London. - Plane crash occurred near London shortly post takeoff on a small aircraft
In a shocking incident on Sunday, July 13, 2025, a small aircraft crashed near London Southend Airport, leading to an immediate response from emergency services and the suspension of all flight operations.
The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, a turboprop aircraft approximately 12 meters (39 feet) long, equipped with medical systems for patient transport. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff at around 4 p.m. local time, resulting in a significant smoke cloud and a fireball, as reported by eyewitnesses and captured in circulating footage.
The aircraft was operated by Zeusch Aviation from the Netherlands and had flown from Athens to Pula before heading to Southend. It was scheduled to return to Lelystad, Netherlands, later that evening. The exact number of people on board the aircraft remains unknown.
The crash caused authorities to suspend all flight operations at London Southend Airport, with all flights cancelled until further notice. Emergency services, including the Essex Police, the East of England Ambulance Service, and multiple ambulances, rapid response, and Hazardous Area Response Team units, were promptly dispatched to the scene. Air ambulance support was also called in.
As a precaution, nearby locations such as Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated. The public has been advised by David Burton-Sampson, the MP for Southend West and Leigh, to stay away from the area.
Zeusch Aviation has acknowledged the accident and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The incident has been classified as serious, and emergency personnel continue to work at the site.
At the time of writing, no detailed official update on casualties or the cause of the crash has been released. The operation is expected to last several more hours. No initial reports of injuries or fatalities have been made.
The airport, located 60 kilometers east of London in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has seen several flights scheduled for today cancelled, as shown on the airport's website. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
Community policy regarding the incident at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025, should include updates on the investigation into the crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, as it falls under general-news and crime-and-justice categories. Environment agencies might be involved due to the smoke cloud and potential environmental impact from the aircraft crash, as well as accidents and sports departments for any updates on unfolding events or affected nearby locations like Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club.
