Golfers Rush to Flaming Plane After Crash (Video)

A routine flight turned into a scene from a disaster film Tuesday afternoon when a small aircraft burst into flames just seconds after takeoff from Southend Airport, crashing terrifyingly close to a nearby golf course as stunned onlookers — including families with children — watched the tragedy unfold in real time.

The Beechcraft B200, a 31-year-old twin-engine turboprop owned by Zeusch Aviation, had barely cleared 175 feet of altitude when it suddenly veered left, nosedived, and smashed into the earth in a massive fireball. The aircraft was bound for Lelystad, Netherlands, and took off around 3:55 p.m., about 10 minutes behind schedule.

“It just inverted and went straight down,” said John Johnson, who had been waving at the pilots with his family moments before the crash. “One second they were smiling and waving, and the next… it was just a huge fireball.”

Just yards away at Rochford Hundred Golf Club, stunned golfers sprinted toward the burning wreckage.

“Watch for the explosion, boys! What the f* is going on?”** one man shouted breathlessly in a video now circulating online. Panic and disbelief are evident as others shout, “Who’s on the tee? Who’s on the floor?” — fearing someone had been caught in the blast.

A Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Southend Airport in London.

Shocking visuals show the aircraft engulfed in flames, with witnesses describing it as a massive "fireball."#aviation pic.twitter.com/qRVi4K2deJ

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) July 13, 2025

Dani Hill, a local resident, saw the explosion from her window. “I’m still shaking,” she told reporters. “It looked like a war zone. I just prayed everyone was okay.”

A mother watching planes take off with her young daughter from a nearby Holiday Inn described the horror:

“It was surreal. The plane just kicked to the left, banked hard, then dropped like a rock. The explosion was instant. I feel for the children — they all saw it.”

Another witness echoed the panic: “There was no time to escape. It was like watching something in slow motion. A second later, just smoke and fire.”

Essex Police, fire crews, paramedics, and even air ambulances rushed to the scene. The area has been sealed off and multiple EasyJet flights have been canceled, including routes to Paris, Alicante, Faro, and Palma de Mallorca.

Authorities set up a major incident hotline and urged the public to stay away.

Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin addressed the public: “We understand the shock this incident has caused. We’re working with aviation investigators to determine what went wrong. Please let us do our job — the area is still an active scene.”

This isn’t the first crash involving a Beechcraft at Southend Airport. In 1987, a similar model went down during takeoff, killing the pilot.

The doomed plane had already flown two legs earlier that day — from Athens to Croatia, then to the UK. It took off at around 120 mph but appeared to lose power and stability within seconds.

Flightradar data shows the plane slowed sharply after leaving the ground and banked left before plummeting.

Photos show an ominous black cloud rising high into the sky, visible from over 20 miles away in Whitstable. Nearby rugby clubs and businesses were initially evacuated as a precaution. One bartender at the golf club reported a sudden wave of heat before he looked up and saw a massive burst of fire.

“It felt like I was baking — the heat just hit me like a wall,” said James Philpott. “Then I saw flames 100 feet high.”

As of now, officials have not confirmed how many people were on board. The aircraft can hold up to 12 passengers. Eyewitnesses only saw the pilots. Whether they survived remains unclear.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is leading the probe.

Zeusch Aviation has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The Dutch Foreign Ministry says it has not been contacted.

Local officials, including MP David Burton-Sampson and Councillor Matt Dent, urged residents to stay calm and support emergency efforts.

As of this evening, recovery crews remain at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation, but early reports suggest mechanical failure may have played a role.

In the words of one eyewitness:

“It felt like we were watching a nightmare unfold — and we couldn’t look away.”