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Captain of doomed plane that crashed at Southend Airport and first officer, 24, are pictured as airline pays tribute

Captain of doomed plane that crashed at Southend Airport and first officer, 24, are pictured as airline pays tribute

The Irish Sun2 days ago
THE captain of the plane that crashed at Southend Airport and killed four people has been named and pictured for the first time.
The small medical aircraft corkscrewed in the air shortly after taking off from the London airport
before
6
Captain Danny Marko Franken has been named and pictured
6
First Officer Floris Christian Rhee also died
6
The Beech B200 was set to travel to the Netherlands
Credit: UKNIP
6
The remains of the plane following the crash
Credit: Unpixs
Now, it has been reported that Captain Danny Franken, 53, and first officer Floris Rhee, 24, were
Mr Franken, from Harderwijk, was married with two children and also worked as a first officer for KLM on Boeing 777, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
He was described by his family in an obituary notice as a "dearest husband, cheerful caring father, wonderful son, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle".
The other two people onboard the plane - a female nurse and a male doctor - also died in the crash.
Read More in UK News
The nurse was named in reports as 31-year-old Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a German national originally from Chile, and the doctor was named as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46.
It was also revealed she was on her first day as a 'flight nurse', according to her close friend.
The UK was rocked by the tragic air disaster on July 13 after footage showed the Beech B200 Super King Air crashing.
The plane was heading for Lelystad in the Netherlands, with an estimated departure time of 3.45pm.
Most read in The Sun
The plane was returning to its base having transported a patient into the UK for treatment when tragedy struck.
Footage showed fire and black smoke billowing into the air from the crash site, while witnesses described seeing the jet "corkscrew" before erupting into a ball of flames.
Plane crashes and overturns on runway at UK airport after 'pilot error' as man, 84, and woman, 78, rushed to hospital
Southend Airport was closed following the incident so investigations could be carried out, before reopening on July 17.
Those inquiries have been ongoing, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
The plane was operated by the Netherlands-based Zeusch Aviation.
Marco Rietvelt, managing director of Zeusch Aviation, said: "Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team.
"Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out.
"We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss.
"Our priority is to support the families of those lost, as well as our employees, during this incredibly difficult time.
"We are also fully committed to assisting the authorities in their ongoing investigation."
Essex Police said two days after the tragedy on July 15 that three bodies had been recovered from the crash site.
The next day, a fourth body was recovered.
Cops have been investigating with the airline, airport, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Royal Air Force and Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously paid tribute to emergency responders and the four victims, tweeting: "My thoughts are with their families and loved ones."
6
Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, was previously named as a victim of the deadly plane crash in Southend
Credit: Go Fund Me
6
A plume of black smoke rises from an area near the runway after a small plane crash
Credit: Reuters
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Captain of doomed plane that crashed at Southend Airport and first officer, 24, are pictured as airline pays tribute
Captain of doomed plane that crashed at Southend Airport and first officer, 24, are pictured as airline pays tribute

The Irish Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

Captain of doomed plane that crashed at Southend Airport and first officer, 24, are pictured as airline pays tribute

THE captain of the plane that crashed at Southend Airport and killed four people has been named and pictured for the first time. The small medical aircraft corkscrewed in the air shortly after taking off from the London airport before 6 Captain Danny Marko Franken has been named and pictured 6 First Officer Floris Christian Rhee also died 6 The Beech B200 was set to travel to the Netherlands Credit: UKNIP 6 The remains of the plane following the crash Credit: Unpixs Now, it has been reported that Captain Danny Franken, 53, and first officer Floris Rhee, 24, were Mr Franken, from Harderwijk, was married with two children and also worked as a first officer for KLM on Boeing 777, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. He was described by his family in an obituary notice as a "dearest husband, cheerful caring father, wonderful son, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle". The other two people onboard the plane - a female nurse and a male doctor - also died in the crash. Read More in UK News The nurse was named in reports as 31-year-old Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a German national originally from Chile, and the doctor was named as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. It was also revealed she was on her first day as a 'flight nurse', according to her close friend. The UK was rocked by the tragic air disaster on July 13 after footage showed the Beech B200 Super King Air crashing. The plane was heading for Lelystad in the Netherlands, with an estimated departure time of 3.45pm. Most read in The Sun The plane was returning to its base having transported a patient into the UK for treatment when tragedy struck. Footage showed fire and black smoke billowing into the air from the crash site, while witnesses described seeing the jet "corkscrew" before erupting into a ball of flames. Plane crashes and overturns on runway at UK airport after 'pilot error' as man, 84, and woman, 78, rushed to hospital Southend Airport was closed following the incident so investigations could be carried out, before reopening on July 17. Those inquiries have been ongoing, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch. The plane was operated by the Netherlands-based Zeusch Aviation. Marco Rietvelt, managing director of Zeusch Aviation, said: "Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team. "Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out. "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss. "Our priority is to support the families of those lost, as well as our employees, during this incredibly difficult time. "We are also fully committed to assisting the authorities in their ongoing investigation." Essex Police said two days after the tragedy on July 15 that three bodies had been recovered from the crash site. The next day, a fourth body was recovered. Cops have been investigating with the airline, airport, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Royal Air Force and Essex Fire and Rescue Service. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously paid tribute to emergency responders and the four victims, tweeting: "My thoughts are with their families and loved ones." 6 Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, was previously named as a victim of the deadly plane crash in Southend Credit: Go Fund Me 6 A plume of black smoke rises from an area near the runway after a small plane crash Credit: Reuters

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  • Irish Examiner

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