Four people are believed to have died after a plane crashed at London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, according to The Independent.
Emergency services were called just before 4pm to reports of a “serious incident” involving a 12-metre light aircraft, ITV reports.
Images shared online showed thick black smoke and flames billowing from the crash site, with witnesses describing the moment as a “fireball.”
Essex Police have not yet officially confirmed the fatalities, but a press conference is scheduled for Monday afternoon.
The aircraft, operated by Dutch-based Zeusch Aviation, was identified as flight SUZ1. The company confirmed the plane was involved in an accident and said it is cooperating fully with investigators.
The aircraft had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, before heading to Southend. It was scheduled to return to Lelystad in the Netherlands on Sunday evening.
London Southend Airport has been closed until further notice, with all flights cancelled. Monday’s schedule included 20 easyJet services and two from Eastern Airways, per BBC News.
Local man, John Johnson, 40, told the BBC that he'd seen the crash unfold.
"You could see [the pilots] smiling and we all kind of smiled back. The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take-off point, powered up its engines and powered past us, carrying on down the runway," he said.
"It took off in probably three or four seconds. It started to bank heavily to its left. I said to my wife, 'That's unusual.' We don't find aircraft normally turning at that stage in their ascent," he added. "Within a few seconds of that, the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball."
Emergency response was significant, with five fire crews, two off-road units, multiple ambulance teams including an air ambulance, and hazardous response vehicles deployed to the scene.
More updates to follow as the situation develops.