London Southend Airport Remains Closed After Deadly Plane Crash Sparks Investigation
London Southend Airport remains closed until further notice following a tragic aircraft accident that occurred on Sunday, officials confirmed.
During a press conference, Chief Executive Jude Winstanley announced the temporary closure as investigations continue.
🔥 Plane Crash Results in Fatal Fireball
Emergency services were called just before 4:00 p.m. BST after reports of a 12-metre aircraft engulfed in flames at the north end of the airfield.
The aircraft belonged to Dutch charter operator Zeusch Aviation, who confirmed that their flight SUZ1 was involved in the incident.
“We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates… Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected,” Zeusch Aviation stated.
The plane had originated from Athens, Greece, made a stop in Pula, Croatia, and was scheduled to return to Lelystad, Netherlands after a brief stop at Southend.
👀 Eyewitness Account: “It Turned Into a Fireball”
Local resident John Johnson, who witnessed the crash from near the runway, described a harrowing scene:
“It took off and began banking sharply left — then almost inverted before hitting the ground. Seconds later, there was a huge fireball.”
Fire crews from Southend, Rayleigh Weir, and Basildon, along with off-road support units from Billericay and Chelmsford, arrived swiftly at the crash site.
🚨 Medical Response & Casualties
The East of England Ambulance Service deployed:
Four ambulances
One rapid response unit
Four Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) vehicles
Three senior paramedic cars
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance
Sadly, all four individuals on board were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin, the victims are believed to be foreign nationals, though their identitieshave not yet been made public.
🔍 Investigation Underway
Authorities are now working alongside aviation experts to determine the cause of the crash.
Officials emphasize that a full investigation is ongoing, and no conclusions have yet been drawn about mechanical failure or pilot error.
