Southend Airport crash plane 'corkscrewed upside down into the floor'
The plane which crashed at Southend Airport yesterday 'corkscrewed' into the ground as tragedy struck moments after takeoff, a witness has said.
Dad Ben Guppy was at the airport to plane spot with his 15-month-old daughter. And he has recalled the horrifying moment he witnessed the jet plunge to the ground.
The 34-year-old was watching the planes taking off and landing at the Essex airport - but what should have been a fun day out ended in disaster when they witnesses a horror plane crash.
The family from Benfleet, Essex, were plane spotting from the bar and restaurant on the fifth floor of a nearby Holiday Inn when the tragic crash unfolded before their eyes.
Mr Guppy, a wholesale director, described how the crowd in the bar began screaming as they realised what had happened. He said: "I just looked around like 'Am I dreaming?'.
According to MailOnline, he said: "I turned to my wife Jess, who had her hands over her face. She was pretty much in tears. She's still pretty upset about it all." He said he saw the plane reach 'probably 50 metres off the runway' before the plane began tilting left.
He said: " My daughter was pointing at it and then it listed to the left. The left wing came down, the ring wing came up, I thought "He's keen to go left as soon as he takes off
The Mirror reports Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "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."
Essex Police said: "We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport. 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. We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues."
The police statement adds: "As a precaution due to their proximity to the incident, we are evacuating the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club."
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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 have been sent to Southend Airport responding to reports of an incident involving an airplane."
A spoksperson for the airport issued the following statement last night: "Due to a serious incident today at London Southend Airport, we regret to advise that the Airport is closed until further notice.
"All flights to and from the Airport have been cancelled while Police, emergency services and air accident investigators are attending the incident.
"We ask that any passengers due to travel tomorrow (Monday, July 14) via London Southend Airport contact their airline for information and advice.
"Our thoughts are with those affected by today's events and all passengers impacted by this disruption. We will restart flight operations as soon as possible and will continue to update the public on developments." No updates have been issued since.
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