London, United Kingdom: Four people were killed when a medical transport aircraft operated by Zeusch Aviation crashed shortly after takeoff from London Southend Airport on Sunday, July 14. Authorities have confirmed that all four occupants onboard the Beechcraft B200 Super King Air perished in the incident.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and Essex Police are continuing a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which occurred just seconds after the aircraft lifted off from Runway 05.
Fatalities Confirmed
In an official statement released Monday, Essex Police confirmed the deaths of all four individuals aboard. Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin stated:
“Sadly, we can now confirm that all four people on board died. We are working closely with partner agencies, including the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, to recover all available information.”
Formal identification of the victims is ongoing, and their families are being supported by liaison officers. While official identities have not yet been published by Essex Police, documents reviewed by Britain’s national news agency PA indicate that the deceased included two Dutch pilots, a 31-year-old Chilean-born German flight nurse, and another foreign medical staff member.
The nurse, later identified by multiple media outlets as Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, was reportedly on her first day of duty aboard the aircraft.
Crash Circumstances
The aircraft, registered in the Netherlands and operated by Zeusch Aviation, was performing a medical repatriation flight bound for the Netherlands, following earlier stops in Greece and Croatia. The flight was designated SUZ1.
Witnesses and preliminary flight data suggest the aircraft became airborne, banked sharply to the left, inverted, and descended rapidly before crashing into the ground near the airport perimeter. The impact produced a large fireball and thick smoke visible across much of Essex.
Emergency services from Essex Police, Fire and Rescue, ambulance services, and Southend Airport personnel responded within minutes. A full cordon was established, and nearby roads were closed as a precaution. A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) air exclusion zone remains in place over the site.
The crash site was secured to facilitate recovery of wreckage, flight recorders, and technical components, which are now being examined by AAIB inspectors.
London Southend Airport suspended all flights immediately following the crash. The airport remains closed as of Tuesday, July 15, with no estimated time for reopening announced. Airlines have advised passengers to check for updates and alternative travel arrangements.
Investigation Continues
The AAIB has deployed a multidisciplinary team to Southend to investigate the circumstances leading to the accident. Both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) have been located and are undergoing analysis. No preliminary findings have yet been published.
In a statement, Zeusch Aviation acknowledged the loss of its crew and support staff and expressed full cooperation with UK authorities:
“We are devastated by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with the families of our crew and colleagues. We are assisting investigators and will continue to share relevant updates in due course.”
Authorities have urged members of the public who witnessed the crash or captured it on video to provide their materials directly to investigators rather than share them on social media.
Chief Superintendent Cronin added that the priority now is “to support the families affected and establish the full facts behind what happened.”
