London (AP) – All four people aboard the AA small aircraft crashed immediately after withdrawing from the London Southend Airport, police said on Monday.
Essex police said that work is going on to formally identify the victims of the accident, none of which are British.
Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, run by Dutch firm Zushe Aviation, flew from Athens, Greece to Pula in Croatia before going to Southnd on Sunday. This was due to Lelestad returning to its home base in the Netherlands on Sunday evening. The 12-meter (39-foot) turboprop aircraft came in a few moments after takeoff and burst into flames.
Essex Police Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin told reporters, “It is a matter of regret that we can now confirm that all four people died.” “We are officially working to confirm their identity. At this stage, we believe that all are four foreign nationals.”
Zish Aviation, according to its website, operates aerial mapping and private charters along with medical withdrawal and transplant flights.
The company said that “it is with deep sadness that we confirm that there were no one left among four people on the board flight Suz1.”
“Our thoughts and deep sympathy are with the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” said this.
London Southnd is a relatively small airport, which is about 45 miles (72 km) in the east of the British capital, which is used by airlines, including Ezizat, for small flights. The airport remained closed on Monday, when it would open again, there was no word on it.
The UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch said it had sent a “multi-disciplinary team” with inspectors at the airport with specialization in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering and recorded data.
“As part of our investigation, we are contacting with other state investigating officers,” said Lisa Fitzesimons of the Air Appridge Investigation Branch. “At this stage, it is too early to estimate what could be the cause of this tragic accident.”
Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, which was first built in the 1970s, is an aviation workhears that is used for a variety of roles worldwide.
In 2017, an aircraft of the same model crashed on the roof of a shopping mall in Melbourne, a shopping mall in Australia, in later moments of takeoff, pilot and four American tourists died.
The Associated Press