Fireball—a terrifying blaze lit up the skies over Southend Airport this afternoon after a small passenger aircraft crashed shortly following takeoff, sparking a massive emergency response.
The aircraft, reportedly a Be ech B200 model, had just departed en route to Lelystad, Netherlands, when the incident occurred around 4 PM local time. A towering fireball was visible from nearby areas as the plane went down, prompting immediate deployment of Essex Police, fire brigades, ambulance crews, and an air ambulance to the crash site.
According to Essex Police, the aircraft—a 12-metre-long plane—was the only one involved. “We are currently working in coordination with all emergency services at the location,” the statement read. “Our teams will remain at the scene for several hours. We urge the public to steer clear of the area as the response continues.”
Fireball Prompts Urgent Evacuations as Emergency Crews Battle Devastating Aftermath
As a safety precaution, the nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated. Essex County Fire and Rescue confirmed that four engines and specialist off-road units were dispatched. Meanwhile, the East of England Ambulance Service sent four ambulances and four Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles.
David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West, responded to the event via X (formerly Twitter): “Please stay away from the area and allow emergency services to carry out their vital work. My thoughts are with all those affected.”
Southend City Council’s cabinet member Matt Dent also expressed concern and solidarity with emergency responders and those involved.
Operations at Southend Airport were impacted, with four EasyJet flights—bound for Paris, Alicante, Faro, and Palma de Mallorca—cancelled. The airline operates over 120 flights a week from the airport.
Further investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash. Authorities have not confirmed the number of people on board or casualties, but updates are expected in the coming hours.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
