On the afternoon of Sunday, 13 July, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air medical evacuation aircraft crashed in flames shortly after taking off from Southend Airport in Essex, at around 4:00 p.m. local time.
The tragedy generated a massive fireball and a thick column of black smoke visible from several kilometres away.
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The aircraft was operated by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, which specialises in air medical and organ transport. It was equipped with advanced medical systems such as the LifePort Plus and was en route to Lelystad in the Netherlands, having arrived earlier that day from Pula, Croatia. The number of people on board has not yet been officially confirmed.
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Witnesses reported that the plane veered sharply to the left just seconds after take-off, lost control, and nose-dived into the ground, causing a massive explosion. “It was a huge fireball. Everyone was in shock,” said John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family at the time of the crash.
Emergency teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. The response included four fire engines, specialist hazardous area units, four ambulances, and an air rescue helicopter. Essex Police evacuated nearby areas, including the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and the Westcliff Rugby Club.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Authorities continue to work to determine what led to the aircraft’s fall. More information will be released as the inquiry progresses.
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Source and images: The Times | X @OsiOsint1 | Wikimedia. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
