The tragic accident at London Southend Airport on Sunday, 13 July 2025, has prompted an intensive investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and Essex Police following the crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air shortly after takeoff.
The twin-engine turboprop, operated by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, was en route to Lelystad, Netherlands, when it plummeted just moments after becoming airborne at approximately 3:48 pm, triggering a massive fireball and thick plumes of black smoke visible across Essex. Emergency services, including Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue, and the East of England Ambulance Service, responded swiftly, with four ambulances, hazardous area response teams, and an air ambulance dispatched to the scene.
Witnesses described a harrowing sequence where the aircraft, registered as PH-ZAZ, banked sharply to the left, inverted, and crashed nose-first near the runway perimeter, erupting in flames. One onlooker, John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, recounted waving at the pilots moments before the disaster, only to witness the plane crash headfirst into the ground.
The aircraft, a 12-metre twin-turboprop known for its versatility in medical evacuation and private charter services, had completed multiple flights that weekend, travelling from Lelystad to Memmingen, Germany, then Athens, Greece, and Pula, Croatia, before arriving in Southend earlier on Sunday. Zeusch Aviation confirmed their flight SUZ1 was involved in the accident and stated they are fully cooperating with authorities while expressing condolences to those affected.
England’s AAIB is leading the probe, focusing on several potential factors, including mechanical failure, pilot actions, weather conditions, and weight distribution. The METAR data for Southend Airport at the time of the crash indicated light winds and clear skies, suggesting weather may not have been a primary factor, though wind shear is under consideration. Investigators are expected to analyse cockpit data, maintenance logs, and flight tracking records, which show the plane reached just 175 feet before its fatal descent.
This marks the second Beechcraft crash at Southend, with a similar incident involving the same model occurring in 1987. The aircraft has a solid safety record and is the most popular turboprop in the market, with over 2,000 sales.
Southend Airport remains closed until further notice, with all flights cancelled or diverted to Gatwick and Stansted, causing significant disruption for passengers. Essex Police have established a dedicated public portal and phone line for information related to the crash, urging the public to avoid the area while emergency operations continue. Nearby Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were initially evacuated as a precaution, though the rugby club was later allowed to remain open.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and local MP David Burton-Sampson have expressed their sympathies, with Alexander stating she is monitoring the situation closely. The investigation is in its early stages, with a preliminary AAIB report expected in the coming weeks, though a comprehensive analysis may take months depending on the complexity of the findings.
The incident has reignited discussions about aviation safety protocols, particularly for smaller aircraft used in critical medical missions, as the community mourns and awaits answers.
