Southend airport to remain closed after fireball plane crash

London Southend Airport will remain closed until further notice following a dramatic plane crash that eyewitnesses described as a “fireball.”

Essex Police confirmed they were alerted shortly before 16:00 BST on Sunday to reports of a 12-meter aircraft on fire at the airport in Southend-on-Sea.

The airport has advised passengers scheduled to travel on Monday to contact their airline directly for updates and alternative arrangements. Officials stated that they will continue to provide information as the situation develops.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties involved in the incident.

Dutch operator Zeusch Aviation has confirmed that its SUZ1 flight was “involved in an accident” at London Southend Airport on Sunday.

The company, which is based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, stated that it is actively cooperating with the authorities during the ongoing investigation. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected,” the company said in a public statement.

According to flight records, the aircraft had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, earlier in the day before heading to Southend. It was scheduled to return to Lelystad Airport later that evening.

John Johnson, 40, from Billericay, Essex, was watching planes with his wife and children when he saw a “huge fireball” after the plane crashed “headfirst into the ground.”

Mr. Johnson was at the airport with his wife and children to watch aircraft activity, as he said his sons “are really into planes.”

“You could see [the pilots] smiling, and we all kind of smiled back; the aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its takeoff point, powered up its engines, and powered past us, carrying on down the runway,” he told the BBC.

“It took off in probably three or four seconds. It started to bank heavily to its left.

“I said to my wife, That’s unusual. We don’t find aircraft normally turning at that stage in their ascent.

“Within a few seconds of that, the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball.”

He called 999 to report the incident.