Pilots killed in medical aircraft crash fireball that claimed lives of four people at Southend Airport had to be identified using 'disaster protocols' - as coroner reveals their cause of deaths
All four people onboard Zeusch Aviation Flight SUZ1 died from severe traumatic injuries when it nosedived into the ground and erupted into flames at around 3.58pm on July 13.
Pilot Danny Marco Franken, 53, co-pilot Floris Christiaan Rhee, 24, were flying the 40ft-long Beech B200 aircraft to the Netherlands after transporting a patient to the UK for treatment but reached just 175ft before crashing yards from the runway.
Dr Matthias Eyl, 46, and nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, also died on board the flight operated by the Dutch company Zeusch Aviation.
Captain Franken, from Harderwijk in the Netherlands, was formally identified using disaster protocols and dental records.
A post-mortem examination found he died from 'multiple injuries including severe traumatic head injuries'.
His co-pilot, Mr Rhee, from the Netherlands, was identified using the same procedures, and also died from severe traumatic head injuries, the court heard.
Dr Eyl, a German national, was identified using DNA, personal possessions and witness evidence.
His cause of death was recorded as traumatic head injuries 'pending further investigation'.
Ms Rojas Ortiz, a nurse from Troisdorf, Germany, was identified using DNA and dental comparison. She also died from severe traumatic head injuries.
Home Office pathologist Dr Ben Swift conducted the post-mortem examinations for all four victims.
Senior coroner Lincoln Brooks said he would hear all four full inquests together and adjourned the proceedings until June 15, 2026, by which time a report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is expected.
He added: 'I've been heavily involved and express my gratitude to Essex Police and all the team involved over the past few weeks. I'm satisfied with the evidence provided so far.'
Opening inquests into all four deaths at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford on Thursday, Mr Brooks described the crash as an 'absolute tragedy'.
He said: 'I attended all four [deaths] at the scene of the crash, and I'm grateful to Essex Police who have followed Interpol guidelines for disaster victim identification.
'In respect to all four deceased, on any view it's an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to the family, loved ones and friends of all four of the victims of this terrible crash.'
The AAIB inquiry into the crash is ongoing.
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