A small aircraft has crashed at a regional airport in London, as confirmed by local police and Southend London Airport on Sunday.
Video footage captured the dramatic scene of a 40-foot plane engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing from Southend-on-Sea, located east of London.
In a statement, Essex police mentioned they were notified just before 4:00 PM local time (1500 GMT), stating, “We are coordinating with all emergency services on-site, and this effort will continue for several hours.”
London Southend Airport acknowledged a “serious incident” occurred on Sunday afternoon and stated, “We are collaborating closely with local authorities and will provide further details as soon as we are able.”
As reported by the BBC, the aircraft involved, a Beechcraft B200, crashed shortly after taking off.
Southend-on-Sea is approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of London and ranks as the sixth-largest airport serving the London area.