Dramatic Blaze Erupts After Beech King Air Crashes at Southend
On the afternoon of Sunday, 13 July 2025, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air medical transport aircraft, operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation, plunged back to earth just moments after departing London Southend Airport (SEN), bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands Sky News+3YouTube+3Sky News+3The Economic Times+10Wikipedia+10The Guardian+10.
What Happened
- The aircraft lifted from runway 05 at approximately 15:57 BST, climbing no more than ~175 feet before suddenly banking sharply to the left, inverting, and crashing head‑first into open ground inside the airport perimeter .
- Witnesses described an intense fireball and billowing black smoke piercing the sky .
Casualties & Rescue Response
- All four individuals aboard—two crew and two passengers—were killed; Essex Police confirmed they were all foreign nationals including two Dutch pilots, a Chilean nurse, and one other person People.com+5The Guardian+5Sky News+5.
- Emergency teams from Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, multiple ambulances, fire crews, and hazardous‑area units rushed to the site People.com+2The Guardian+2The Sun+2.
Grounding & Investigation
- Southend Airport immediately closed “until further notice,” halting all flight operations and advising travellers to liaise with their airlines for rerouting or refunds The Guardian+3The Sun+3The Guardian+3.
- The AAIB, Essex Police, RAF, Civil Aviation Authority, and fire services have launched a joint inquiry, collecting flight data and debris; an air‑exclusion zone remains enforced Sky News+4Wikipedia+4The Guardian+4.
Eyewitness Moments
John Johnson, who was at the golf club, shared:
“We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back… it started to bank heavily… then crashed just head‑first into the ground. There was a big fireball.” The Guardian+3Sky News+3The Sun+3
What’s Next
- AAIB investigators are analysing flight recorders and examining wreckage transported to Farnborough The Guardian.
- No cause has been established; senior investigator Lisa Fitzsimons stressed it’s “too early to speculate” Sky News+1The Guardian+1.
- The airport remains shut, with officials promising updates as soon as new findings emerge .
In summary: A medevac‑equipped Beechcraft King Air tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in all onboard perishing and forming a huge fireball. The airport remains closed while a comprehensive investigation unfolds.
