A small Beech B200 Super King Air plane crashed shortly after take off at London Southend Airport in Essex on Sunday, causing a massive fireball and sending a thick plum of black smoke billowing into the sky.
Following the incident, four flights scheduled to take off from the airport on Sunday were cancelled.
Airport officials confirmed the incident, stating, “…there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft.”
However, they didn’t provide any details regarding the casualities. Also, it was not immediately clear how many people were onboard the plane.
Meanwhile, the Essex police said that they were working with emergency reponse teams at the scene and urged public to avoid the area.
“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,” the police said in a statement.
The police also evacuated Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club as a precaution due to their proximity to the incident.
Taking to his X handle, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, David Burton-Sampson said he was aware of the incident and that his thoughts are with everyone involved.
“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,” he wrote on X.