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The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- General
- 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
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Captain of doomed plane that crashed at Southend Airport killing four is named
The pilots killed in the London Southend Airport plane crash were named today as the airline praised them for their 'professionalism, dedication, and character'. Captain Danny Marko Franken, 53, and First Officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, 24, were two of the four people on board who all died in the disaster in Essex on July 13. The medical flight on small plane chartered for a patient to be transported for treatment in the UK crashed within the airport boundary shortly after take-off. The two male pilots were on board with a female nurse and a male doctor, with the Zeusch Aviation plane bound for its Netherlands base after dropping off a patient. The nurse was previously named as Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, a German national originally from Chile, and the doctor was German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. A spokesman for Zeusch Aviation said today: 'With great sadness, we can now confirm the identities of our flight crew who tragically lost their lives on flight SUZ1. 'Our two pilots, Captain Danny Marco Franken and First Officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, were both highly respected and cherished colleagues. Their professionalism, dedication, and character will have a lasting impact on all who worked with them. 'On request of our customer, we do not release any information on the identities of the medical team that was on board of flight SUZ1. 'Our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and all those affected by this devastating loss. Zeusch Aviation continues to offer support to the families and is in close contact with the relevant authorities as investigations continue.' Essex Police said two days after the tragedy on July 15 that three bodies had been recovered from the crash site. The following day, the fourth body was recovered. 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.' An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash involving the Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, which is often used for mapping and for medivac journeys. The plane had completed two trips that day, one from Athens in Greece to Pula in Croatia and then from Pula to Southend, landing in the UK at 2.51pm. The crash happened at 3.48pm and led to all flights in and out of the airport, which is used by easyJet, being suspended. The airport was closed while an investigation was carried out but it partially reopened three days later and resumed normal operations from July 17.
