Small Plane Crashes in Fireball After Takeoff at London Southend Airport
Small aircraft crashed moments after takeoff at London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, erupting into a fireball and triggering a large-scale emergency response and multiple flight cancellations. The incident occurred shortly before 4 pm local time, with authorities confirming that the aircraft, a 12-metre general aviation plane, caught fire on the site in Southend-on-Sea, about 56 km east of London.
Essex Police said it remains on the scene of the “serious incident” with emergency operations expected to continue for several hours. The public has been urged to avoid the area while response teams are working.
The East of England Ambulance Service deployed four emergency crews, including a rapid response vehicle, a hazardous area response team, and a senior paramedic to the site. The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service also responded with units from Southend, Rayleigh Weir, Basildon, Billericay, and Chelmsford.
A spokesperson for London Southend Airport confirmed the incident involved a general aviation aircraft, stating, “We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft.” The airport added that it is working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
At least four scheduled flights were cancelled on Sunday afternoon following the crash, according to the airport’s website. Authorities have not yet disclosed the number of people on board or their conditions at the time of the incident.
Images shared by British media showed flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site near the runway, with fire engines and emergency responders surrounding the area.
Local leaders expressed concern over the incident, with Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, David Burton-Sampson, posting on X, “My thoughts are with everyone involved.” Matt Dent, a Southend City Council cabinet member, also shared on X, “At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport. My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident.”
The cause of the crash is yet to be determined, and investigations are expected to begin once emergency operations conclude.
