Credited from: REUTERS
A small plane crashed at London Southend Airport on Sunday, resulting in four confirmed fatalities, according to Channel News Asia. The aircraft, identified as a Beechcraft B200, went down shortly after departing for Lelystad in the Netherlands around 4 p.m. local time.
Essex Police reported that they are on the scene of the "serious incident" and will remain there for several hours, as stated in a post on Newsweek and ABC News. Nearby establishments, including Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club, were evacuated for safety reasons.
The airport, located approximately 65 kilometers east of central London, is currently closed, with all flights cancelled while emergency services and investigators assess the situation, according to TRT Global and Reuters. Photographs from the scene show a significant fireball and black smoke rising from the crash site.
In light of the tragedy, police are interviewing witnesses and conducting a thorough investigation to understand the events leading up to the crash, as indicated by India Times and Channel News Asia.