London plane crash updates: A small passenger plane caught fire and crashed shortly after taking off from London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon. The aircraft, a Beech B200 Super King Air, was on its way to the Netherlands when it crashed around 4 p.m. while gaining height, resulting in a huge fireball that could be seen from far away.
People who witnessed the accident said the plane turned, flipped, and crashed nose-first into the ground, followed by a large explosion. Emergency services quickly arrived, shut down the airport, and evacuated nearby areas, including golf and rugby clubs, for safety.
The plane belonged to a Dutch medical transport company and had already flown two trips earlier that day. Families at the airport were shocked, especially since the pilots had just waved at some children before the crash. One person nearby described feeling intense heat and seeing flames, with people rushing to help.
Local MP David Burton-Sampson advised the public to stay away and expressed concern for everyone affected.
Emergency teams reached the crash site quickly after the incident was reported. The East of England Ambulance Service sent four ambulances and several other emergency vehicles. Firefighters also helped in the rescue effort.
Flights Cancelled After Plane Crash
After the London plane crash, the airport’s website showed that at least five international flights were cancelled. The airport did not immediately say whether it would restart operations later in the evening. The cause of the crash is still being investigated, and police along with aviation experts are expected to examine the area soon.
Essex Police said they are working with the Air Accident Investigation Branch to look into the crash.
Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said that in the early stages of the investigation, it is important to collect all necessary information and continue helping the people of Essex.
The police also asked the public not to use emergency phone lines for crash-related questions and instead use their special online portal for such updates.
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