'Big fireball': Small plane crashes at London Southend Airport
No details on where the plane was heading or how many people were on board were immediately disclosed.
In a statement on social media, the airport confirmed a 'serious incident' involving what it termed a general aviation aircraft.
Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke emanating from the crash site. The plane involved is said to be 12 metres long.
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Witness John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, said he saw a 'big fireball' after the plane 'crashed head first into the ground".
'It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head-first into the ground," he said. 'There was a big fireball."
Johnson said that before the plane got into position for take-off, he and his family waved at the pilots and 'they all waved back at us.'
After the crash, Johnson said the airport's fire service responded straight away, with two fire engines sent to the crash site, followed by local police, ambulance and fire services.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a fire at an Auckland chapel, new plan for international students, and a first time Wimbledon winner. (Source: 1News)
Essex Police said it was alerted just before 4pm local time to the 'serious incident" at the relatively small airport, which is around 72 kilometres east of the capital.
'We are working with all emergency services at the scene now, and that work will be ongoing for several hours," Essex Police said.
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The local member of Parliament, David Burton-Sampson, urged people to stay away and let the emergency services do their work.
'My thoughts are with everyone involved," he said.
According to the airport's website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon (local time) were cancelled. Flights, as things stand, are set to resume on Monday.
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Essex Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: 'We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3.58pm. Five crews and two off road vehicles initially attended. 'We are continuing to work at the scene with our partners. Please avoid the area if possible while this work continues.' The East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance had been sent to the incident. An airport spokesman said: 'We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport involving a general aviation aircraft'. 'We waved at the pilots' A witness who watched the aircraft take-off said he 'waved at the pilots' in the moments before the disaster. John Johnson, who was at Southend Airport with his family at the time of the crash, said he saw a 'big fireball' after the plane 'crashed head first into the ground'. 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Plane made two flights earlier in day The crashed aircraft, registered PH-ZAZ, had carried out two flights today before the disaster at Southend. It flew from Athens to Pula Airport, departing the Croatian resort town for Southend on a flight of about three hours. Yesterday, the Beech B200 had departed from its home base of Lelystad in the Netherlands for Memmingen in southern Germany, before flying to the Greek capital. A commercial charter website's entry for PH-ZAZ suggested it was configured as a luxury private aeroplane with up to 12 seats and a comfortable leather interior. The Beechcraft King Air B200 has two turboprop engines, meaning a jet turbine that spins a propeller, and is capable of carrying around a dozen people. The United States-made planes are widely used as short-haul charter airliners and for carrying light freight. The plane also carries out medical evacuation flights. 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'We are doing all we can to support our customers and have contacted them directly with options to rebook or receive a refund and are arranging hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.' Aideen Cowling, a mother-of-two, had just got out of her car at the airport when she looked up to see a massive fireball emerging from the wreckage. The 40-year-old was about to catch a flight for a 10-day summer holiday in Mallorca with her children, aged 6 and 3, and husband, Blair, 44. She said: 'I just saw this massive fireball. By the time I said: Blair, look at that, there was no fireball. He only saw the black smoke.' Cowling said a pair of workers in hi-vis clothing explained that sometimes the fire brigade do an exercise, 'so it's probably just them training. Don't worry and get your flight.' He added: 'But then a couple just in front of us said: I don't think it is. I think a plane has just crashed.' 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Emergency services in the UK have raced to the scene of a small plane crash at London Southend Airport. No details on where the plane was heading or how many people were on board were immediately disclosed. In a statement on social media, the airport confirmed a 'serious incident' involving what it termed a general aviation aircraft. Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke emanating from the crash site. The plane involved is said to be 12 metres long. ADVERTISEMENT Witness John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, said he saw a 'big fireball' after the plane 'crashed head first into the ground". 'It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head-first into the ground," he said. 'There was a big fireball." Johnson said that before the plane got into position for take-off, he and his family waved at the pilots and 'they all waved back at us.' After the crash, Johnson said the airport's fire service responded straight away, with two fire engines sent to the crash site, followed by local police, ambulance and fire services. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a fire at an Auckland chapel, new plan for international students, and a first time Wimbledon winner. (Source: 1News) Essex Police said it was alerted just before 4pm local time to the 'serious incident" at the relatively small airport, which is around 72 kilometres east of the capital. 'We are working with all emergency services at the scene now, and that work will be ongoing for several hours," Essex Police said. ADVERTISEMENT The local member of Parliament, David Burton-Sampson, urged people to stay away and let the emergency services do their work. 'My thoughts are with everyone involved," he said. According to the airport's website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon (local time) were cancelled. Flights, as things stand, are set to resume on Monday.
