A small passenger aircraft crashed shortly after take-off at Southend Airport in London on Sunday afternoon, triggering a massive fireball and plumes of thick black smoke that were visible for miles. The crash was captured on camera and footage of the incident is circulating widely on social media.

The twin-engine turboprop aircraft was bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands and was scheduled to take off at around 3:45 PM. Reports suggest the plane typically carried up to 12 passengers, though it remains unclear how many people were onboard at the time of the crash.

Eyewitnesses reportedly described the scene as “absolutely tragic”, with some claiming they had waved to the crew moments before the aircraft went down. The video shows the plane engulfed in flames moments after crashing, with emergency services rushing to the site to control the fire and secure the wreckage.

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Essex Police confirmed the incident in an official statement, “We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport. We were alerted shortly before 4 PM to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane.”

As a precaution, nearby facilities including Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated. Authorities have promised further updates as investigations continue.