London's Southend Airport cancels all flights after small plane crashes after takeoff

A small plane has crashed after take-off at Southend Airport in London, sending a fireball into the sky. Emergency services are currently present at the scene of the crash.

All flights scheduled to leave the airport for the remainder of today have been cancelled after the crash, as per a Sky News report.

In a statement on social media, the airport confirmed a “serious incident” involving what it termed a general aviation aircraft.

ALSO READ: Plane crashes moments after takeoff at London's Southend Airport

Essex Police said it had been alerted just before 4 p.m. local time to the “serious incident" at the relatively small airport, which is around 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of the capital.

🇬🇧✈️ BREAKING:

PLANE CRASHES AT LONDON'S SOUTHEND AIRPORT, LARGE FIREBALL WITNESSED BY MANY PEOPLE.

WORD ON CASUALTIES OR INJURIES IS YET UNKNOWN. pic.twitter.com/a3OTW3eNvf

— SVS NEWS AGENCY (@svsnewsagency) July 13, 2025

Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke emanating from the crash site. The plane involved is said to be 12 meters (39 feet) long. No details on how many people were on board were immediately disclosed.“We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours," Essex Police said.

As a precaution due to their proximity to the incident, police evacuated a local golf club and rugby club.

The local member of parliament, David Burton-Sampson, urged people to stay away and let the emergency services do their work.

“My thoughts are with everyone involved," he said.