Tragedy at Southend: Beechcraft B200 Crashes in Fireball Moments After Takeoff, Rescue Efforts Underway
Southend-on-Sea, Essex, July 14, 2025 – A tragic plane crash rocked London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon when a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air aircraft operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation crashed shortly after takeoff, erupting into a massive fireball and sending thick black smoke billowing into the skies over Essex.
The aircraft, bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands, went down at approximately 3:55 p.m. local time, moments after becoming airborne. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the plane, registered as PH-ZAZ, reached just 175 feet in altitude before banking sharply left, inverting, and plummeting nose-first near the runway’s edge, where it exploded on impact.
Eyewitnesses described the horror of the crash in vivid detail. John Johnson, a 40-year-old from Billericay who was at the airport with his family, said, “We waved at the pilots, and they waved back. Just seconds after takeoff, the plane veered sharply, flipped, and crashed. It burst into flames instantly—it was shocking, especially for the kids who saw it.” Another witness, observing from the nearby Holiday Inn viewing deck, said the descent was “surreal” and the fireball that followed “enormous.”
Emergency services responded within minutes, declaring the incident a “serious emergency.” Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, and the East of England Ambulance Service led a large-scale response. Firefighters from Southend, Basildon, Rayleigh Weir, Billericay, and Chelmsford battled the blaze, while ambulance crews, including four Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) vehicles and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene.
The number of people aboard the ill-fated aircraft has not yet been confirmed. The Beechcraft B200, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, can typically carry up to nine passengers and two crew members. So far, no survivors have been reported. The aircraft had previously flown from Athens to Pula, Croatia, before arriving in Southend earlier that day.
As rescue operations continued, authorities closed London Southend Airport, leading to the cancellation of at least four flights. EasyJet, a major operator at the airport, announced diversions and cancellations for the remainder of the day. In a statement, the airport said: “Our thoughts are with those affected by today’s tragic event. We will resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so and will continue to provide updates.”
Rumors of nearby evacuations were dispelled later in the evening, with the Westcliff Rugby Club confirming no evacuation was necessary. However, a wide cordon remains in place around the crash site, and the public has been urged to avoid the area to allow emergency crews and investigators to carry out their work.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the crash “tragic” and said she was monitoring the situation closely. Local MP David Burton-Sampson and Southend City Council member Matt Dent expressed their condolences and support for the ongoing emergency response.
The UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has taken charge of the investigation. Experts believe several factors—including aircraft maintenance, weight balance, and pilot decisions—will be central to determining the cause of the crash. Zeusch Aviation, which specializes in medical evacuations and private charters, has pledged full cooperation.
Sunday’s crash is eerily reminiscent of a similar incident in 1987, when another Beechcraft 200 crashed shortly after takeoff at the same airport, killing the pilot. While the B200 has a solid safety record overall, this latest tragedy has reignited questions around aviation safety, particularly for small charter aircraft.
Images and videos posted on social media show the aftermath—smoke, flames, and the charred remains of the plane scattered near the runway. The extent of the damage has deeply shaken the local community and aviation watchers alike.
As investigators piece together what happened, emergency teams remain on-site, and the priority continues to be on rescue efforts and support for the victims and their families. Further details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
