A small plane has crashed after takeoff from London Southend Airport, exploding into a huge fireball just yards from the runway.
The 40ft-long Beech B200 aircraft was heading from the Essex airport to the Netherlands but reached just 175ft before crashing.
Footage has been circulating on social media of a black plume of smoke billowing into the sky.
The flight to Lelystad, east of Amsterdam, was scheduled to take off at 3.45pm but took off ten minutes late, according to Flightradar.
It is unclear how many people were onboard but the twin-engined turboprop plane can fit up to 12 passengers. Essex police, ambulances and fire engines are all at the scene.
Residents are being advised to stay away from the area and several Easyjet flights from Southend have been cancelled.
One user wrote on X: ‘Just witnessed a Beechcraft crash on take-off at Southend airport about 40 minutes after a Cessna also left the runway.
‘Thoughts are with those on the aircraft.
A small plane has crashed close to the runway after takeoff from Southend Airport
Images of a huge fire with black smoke have been circulating on social media
A huge plume of black smoke was seen coming off the runway
The flight to Lelystad was scheduled to take off at 3.45pm, according to Flightradar
It was a small Beech B200 aircraft that was involved in the crash (stock photo)
‘Absolutely tragic. Was waving to the aircrew just moments before.’
Dani Hill, who lives near Southend Airport, told the Daily Star: ‘I saw the huge fireball from my window. I’m still shaking like mad.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it. Praying all involved are ok if any.’
The plane appears to have taken off in a northeasterly direction at about 120mph and reached around 175ft, according to Flightradar, but data indicates to slowed after leaving the ground and turning to the north.
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.
MP David Burton-Sampson wrote on X: ‘I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport.
‘Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work. My thoughts are with everyone involved.’
Councillor Matt Dent said: ‘I am aware of the live serious incident ongoing at London Southend Airport. At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport.
‘My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident.’
Local sports clubs, the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club, have also been evacuated due to its proximity to the explosion as a ‘precaution’, police have said.
A 5.25pm flight to Faro out of Southend Airport has been cancelled, as well as a 5.30pm flight to Palma de Mallorca.
A Beechcraft 200 had previously crashed at Southend Airport, killing its pilot in the takeoff in 1987, according to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives.
Essex Police have said: ‘We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport.
In one video circulating online, passengers were seen boarding with the crash billowing smoke on the other side of the runway
A huge cloud of black smoke was seen billowing from the side of the runway
The smoke clouds could be seen from the car park
A fire engine was seen 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.’
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.
‘This is a live incident and still developing as we work at the scene with our emergency services colleagues and aviation partners.’
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: ‘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.
‘Please avoid the area if possible while this work continues.’
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
