A small plane went down shortly after takeoff at London Southend Airport, killing all four people on board. It was a terrible event. Many people are still in shock and disbelief about the crash that happened on Sunday, July 13, 2025. The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, which was privately held by the Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, was on a flight from Athens, Greece, to Southend when it crashed just after taking off.
People who were hurt and killed
- It was confirmed that all four people on the plane died.
- Authorities are still trying to confirm the victims’ identities, but they are thought to be foreign nationals.
- One of the victims was Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a 31-year-old nurse from Chile who was born in Germany. She had worked in public healthcare before, but this was her first day as a flight nurse.
- There were also two Dutch pilots on board, a pilot and a co-pilot, who died in the crash.
Details about the plane and the flight
- The plane was a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, which is a 12-meter turboprop plane.
- Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch company that specializes in medical evacuations and private charters, runs it.
- The plane had already flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, and then to Southend.
- It was supposed to go back to Lelystad, Netherlands, on Sunday night, but it crashed just after takeoff.
Details of the Crash
- Witnesses said that the plane crashed almost right after takeoff, going nose-first into the ground and catching fire, which made a big fireball.
- John Johnson, who saw the crash happen, said that the plane took off, tilted heavily to the left, and almost turned upside down before crashing. The crash caused a huge fireball, and the airport’s fire department quickly put it out.
What Zeusch Aviation Said
- Zeusch Aviation, the company that ran the flight, confirmed the accident and sent their condolences to the families of the people who died. The company is also helping with the crash investigation that is still going on.
- The company runs a number of flights, such as medical evacuations, transplant flights, and private charters. They are also working with the authorities to find out what caused the crash.
Investigations
- The Essex Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are looking into what caused the crash.
- The AAIB has sent a team of inspectors with different backgrounds in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering, and recorded data to look into the matter.
- Some experts say that the left engine of the plane may have lost power, based on previous crashes of similar models. However, it’s too soon to say for sure.
- As part of the investigation, the police are working with other state agencies.
Effects on Airports and Operations
- London Southend Airport is still closed, and all flights to and from the airport were canceled or sent to other airports.
- To help with the investigation, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set up a large air exclusion zone around the crash site.
- EasyJet, which flies short distances from the airport, had to cancel flights and told passengers to check with other airlines for other ways to get there.
What People Think
- Local MPs, like David Burton-Sampson, said they were sorry for the families affected and asked people to stay away from the area so that emergency services could do their jobs.
- Friends have called Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz a “kind soul,” and the community has come together to support the victims.
The History of Aircraft
- The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air is a popular turboprop plane that can be used for many different things, like medical evacuations, aerial mapping, and private charters.
- In 2017, a plane of the same model crashed in Melbourne, Australia, killing five people, four of whom were American tourists.
What to do next
- The investigation is still going on, and air accident investigators continue to search at the wreckage and collecting information.
- As the investigation goes on, officials are expected to make new discoveries. If any safety lessons are learned, the AAIB will make recommendations.
In short
The crash at London Southend Airport has left many people sad. All four people on the Beechcraft B200 Super King Air died. The investigation, which is still in its early stages, will try to find out what caused the terrible accident. The airport is still closed, and the community is helping those who were affected by this terrible event.
