Small plane crashes at London Southend Airport
"We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport," the local Essex Police said, adding that they were alerted just before 4pm to reports of a collision involving a 12-metre plane.
It was unclear how many people were on the plane.
Images from UK newspaper websites, not verified by Reuters, showed a fireball rising into the air above Southend Airport, about 56km east of London.
We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane.We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours. 2/3
— David Burton-Sampson MP (@DavidBSampson) July 13, 2025
The East of England Ambulance Service said it had sent four ambulances and other response vehicles.
The relatively small airport's website showed five international flights had been cancelled following the accident.
As a precaution due to their proximity to the incident, police evacuated a local golf club and rugby club.
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".
Johnson told the PA news agency: "We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us.
"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 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.
"The airport's fire service responded straight away, two fire engines, and then Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service and Essex Fire and Rescue Service, as well as a helicopter emergency medical service, all responded to the scene."
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.
with PA and AP
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