'Fireball' plane crash pilots 'waved to children' before plunging to ground seconds after take-off
The pilots of a light aircraft which crashed in a "huge fireball" on Sunday afternoon were seen waving at children just moments before the horror incident, a witness has claimed.
The plane, a Beech B200 Super King Air, crashed shortly after taking off from Southend Airport in Essex at around 4pm on July 13.
The medical transport plane was bound for Lelystad, in the Netherlands, having arrived at Southend from Pula, Croatia, the Mirror reports.
One man who was at the airport with his family said he saw the plane crashing "head first into the ground". John Johnson, from Billericay, Essex, added that adults and children had waved at the pilots as they prepared to take off.
He said: "The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take-off, departure, powered up, rolled down the runway. It took off and about three or four seconds after it 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.
"There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it. I phoned 999, reported it."
He added: "I'd say that we're pretty shaken up. I just feel sad for the people who were on the plane and, of course, their loved ones and their family, our thoughts are with them."
A member of staff at Rochford Hundred Golf Club, which is next door to the airport, said he felt a "big heat wave" before looking up to see a "massive fireball". The golf club and nearby Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated due to their proximity to the incident.
James Philpott told the BBC: "I was just basically in a hut like in the middle of the course and I didn't even see any plane go down or anything and I just felt like a big heat wave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky. It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like, feel like I'm baking."
He went on to say: "I think everyone was just quite shocked to be honest. People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured or anything."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
He added that he and others were picked up from the course and returned to the clubhouse, where they remain at a "safe distance" with the club closed.
A statement from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service read: "We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3.58pm.
"Crews from Southend (two), Rayleigh Weir and Basildon (two), along with off road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended. We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners."
Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and an air ambulance were dispatched by East of England Ambulance Service.
Writing on social media, David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: "I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone involved."
Matt Dent, Southend City Council's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, also said in a post: "I am aware of the live serious incident ongoing at London Southend Airport.
"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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Warning to UK holidaymakers after Greece announces 'shut down' as temperatures soar
Temperatures are currently soaring across the popular tourist hotspot. UK holidaymakers heading to Greece this summer are being warned after the country announced a shutdown in areas popular with tourists. As the country battles a severe heatwave, authorities took the decision to close certain (literal) hotspots. Iconic Athens landmarks the Acropolis will be closed and outdoor work in parts of the country will also be halted. The ancient monument will be off limits until 5pm on Tuesday for the 'safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures. ' According to the Greek Ministry of Labour outdoor work will also be halted from 12pm to 5pm in multiple regions, including islands popular with UK holidaymakers, reports Birmingham Live. Michalis Keskinidis, a 43-year-old courier told the AFP news agency: "Days with a heatwave make my job more difficult. 'We drink a lot of water, use electrolytes, and take breaks whenever possible.' According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the UN body responsible for assessing climate change - it is now "unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land". Climate scientist Professor Ed Hawkins from Reading University warns that "1C of global warming does NOT mean that heatwaves 'just' get hotter by 1C. Over large parts of the UK, global warming means that heatwaves are 3-4C warmer". Climate projections from the Met Office indicate that "hot spells will become more frequent in our future climate, particularly over the southeast of the UK. Temperatures are projected to rise in all seasons, but the heat would be most intense in summer." The BBC Weather team says: "Friday's update could provide more clarity about the most likely conditions for next week and give a further outlook for the period after that which might indicate if we are going to see cooler conditions towards the end of July and into August." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The Met Office expects a largely dry and sunny day away from the extreme northwest of Scotland where there will still be some cloud and patchy drizzle. Hot elsewhere in the sunshine but slightly cooler along eastern coasts. Its forecast says: "Dry and clear for most with some locally high temperatures, making it feel muggy for some. Some low cloud and sea fog around coastal areas." The Met Office expects a largely dry and sunny day away from the extreme northwest of Scotland where there will still be some cloud and patchy drizzle. Hot elsewhere in the sunshine but slightly cooler along eastern coasts. Its forecast says: "Dry and clear for most with some locally high temperatures, making it feel muggy for some. "Some low cloud and sea fog around coastal areas."
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Smoke billows into sky after Southend plane crash
A small plane crashed and erupted into a fireball outside Southend Airport on Sunday shortly after taking off. Video footage captured a large plume of black smoke rising from the crash site, which occurred just before 4pm. Flight tracking data suggests the aircraft involved was a Beech B200 Super King Air, which was travelling to Lelystad in the Netherlands. Southend Airport is shut until further notice with a cordon in place, and there has been no official confirmation of any casualties. Watch the video in full above.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
'Fireball' plane crash pilots 'waved to children' before plunging to ground seconds after take-off
Adults and children were left in shock after witnessing the horrific crash. The pilots of a light aircraft which crashed in a "huge fireball" on Sunday afternoon were seen waving at children just moments before the horror incident, a witness has claimed. The plane, a Beech B200 Super King Air, crashed shortly after taking off from Southend Airport in Essex at around 4pm on July 13. The medical transport plane was bound for Lelystad, in the Netherlands, having arrived at Southend from Pula, Croatia, the Mirror reports. One man who was at the airport with his family said he saw the plane crashing "head first into the ground". John Johnson, from Billericay, Essex, added that adults and children had waved at the pilots as they prepared to take off. He said: "The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take-off, departure, powered up, rolled down the runway. It took off and about three or four seconds after it 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. "There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it. All the kids saw it and the families saw it. I phoned 999, reported it." He added: "I'd say that we're pretty shaken up. I just feel sad for the people who were on the plane and, of course, their loved ones and their family, our thoughts are with them." A member of staff at Rochford Hundred Golf Club, which is next door to the airport, said he felt a "big heat wave" before looking up to see a "massive fireball". The golf club and nearby Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated due to their proximity to the incident. James Philpott told the BBC: "I was just basically in a hut like in the middle of the course and I didn't even see any plane go down or anything and I just felt like a big heat wave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky. It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like, feel like I'm baking." He went on to say: "I think everyone was just quite shocked to be honest. People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured or anything." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He added that he and others were picked up from the course and returned to the clubhouse, where they remain at a "safe distance" with the club closed. A statement from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service read: "We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3.58pm. "Crews from Southend (two), Rayleigh Weir and Basildon (two), along with off road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended. We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners." Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and an air ambulance were dispatched by East of England Ambulance Service. Writing on social media, David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: "I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport. Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone involved." Matt Dent, Southend City Council's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, also said in a post: "I am aware of the live serious incident ongoing at London Southend Airport. "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."
