Southend Airport will remain closed until further notice following a plane crash that witnesses described as a "huge fireball."
Essex Police said the incident occurred just before 4 p.m. BST on Sunday when a 12-metre plane caught fire upon crashing at the Southend-on-Sea airfield. Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties.
Dutch company Zeusch Aviation confirmed its flight SUZ1 was involved in the crash.
The aircraft had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, before heading to Southend with a planned return to Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands later that evening.
The company said it was fully cooperating with investigators and extended thoughts to all affected by the crash.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported seeing the aircraft invert and crash headfirst into the ground, resulting in a massive fireball and thick clouds of black smoke rising into the sky.
John Johnson, a visitor from Billericay, Essex, who was watching planes with his family, described the aircraft's unusual maneuver. "It started to bank heavily to its left... then the aircraft almost inverted and hit the ground. There was a huge fireball," he told the international media.
Emergency services, including the East of England Ambulance Service and Essex County Fire and Rescue, responded to the scene.
Nearby facilities like Rochford Hundred Golf Club were partially evacuated, while Westcliff Rugby Club, located about 1,000 meters from the crash site, was not required to evacuate.
Essex Police, along with the Air Accident Investigation Branch, has launched an investigation.
Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said: "In these very early stages it is vital we gather the information we need, and continue supporting the people of Essex."
Authorities have urged the public to use the dedicated major incident portal for updates and inquiries to keep emergency lines clear.
Passengers scheduled to travel on Monday have been advised to contact their airlines for further information.
