Fireball Erupts After Small Plane Crashes at Southend Airport

A dramatic crash at London Southend Airport has left officials and eyewitnesses stunned after a Beechcraft King Air B200 went down shortly after takeoff, erupting into a massive fireball.

A Routine Departure Turns Tragic

The aircraft, operated by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, had arrived from Croatia earlier in the day and was en route to Lelystad, Netherlands, when disaster struck just before 4 p.m. on Sunday. Witnesses say the plane powered down the runway, lifted off cleanly, then abruptly banked left—far too early in its climb.

Within seconds, the aircraft appeared to lose control, flipped nearly inverted, and crashed nose-first into the ground. A fiery explosion followed, sending a shockwave and towering smoke plume into the sky.

Eyewitnesses Stunned by Sudden Impact

John Johnson, who was watching planes with his wife and kids, described the moment: “It took off in three or four seconds. It started to bank heavily left… then almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball.”

Others nearby, including golfers at Rochford Hundred Golf Club, felt a wave of heat from the explosion. Some rushed toward the crash site to look for survivors, while emergency responders raced to contain the fire.

Airport Closed, Investigation Underway

London Southend Airport remains closed until further notice. Flights to popular destinations like Paris, Alicante, and Palma de Mallorca were canceled as emergency services secured the scene.

Zeusch Aviation confirmed its SUZ1 flight was involved and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Essex Police and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch are now working to determine what caused the sudden crash. So far, no official word has been released regarding casualties.