On Sunday 13th of July, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air crashed at Southend Airport, shortly after takeoff. Witnesses at the airport reported seeing a ‘fireball’ shortly after the plane crashed. All four medical personnel on board were killed, with three of the four identified within the coming days after the incident.
The Beechraft aircraft was operated by Zeusch Aviation
The organisation which operated the aircraft was Zeusch Aviation, who specialise in medial evacuations. They also organise transplant flights and private charters. Zeusch Aviation are based in the Netherlands at Lelystad Airport. The Beechcraft B200, was being used as a medical jet, and had flown from Pula, Croatia before heading to Southend Airport.
Witnesses and employees at Southend Airport reported to various media outlets that the plane hit the ground shortly after takeoff, resulting in a ‘fireball’. The airport was subsequently closed, with all flights cancelled. Images of the scene thereafter the crash show a cloud of dark smoke, as emergency workers, police and air accident rushed to aid the victims.
Southend Airport reopens ‘partially’ four days after the tragic crash
On July 15th, two days after the incident, Southend Airport uploaded statements regarding the crash to X, saying:
‘The friends and families of those lost Sunday are at the forefront of our minds’.
The airport ‘partially’ reopened on July 16th, with a small number of flights approved to operate once again. The airport is now reportedly running flights as normal.
The identified victims were part of a medical team for Zeusch Aviation
Out of the four victims on board, three personnel have been identified.
Pilot and nurse Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, who tragically was on the first day of her job when the crash happened. A GoFundMe has been set up by Ortiz’s family, with the goal to bring their daughter home, as well to share funds between organisations close to Ortiz’s heart.
Floris Rhee, 24, co-pilot and First Officer for Zeusch Aviation completed his training last year. The European Pilot Selection and Training Organisation (EPST) confirmed his passing through EPST Director Eric Duijkers.
Dr. Mathias Eyl, 46, was the Doctor onboard the aircraft. Eyl’s LinkedIn shows he has been working as a flight surgeon for the past three years at Globalmed Air Medical Services.
Travel Radar sends our sympathy to those involved and their families.
