When a small plane goes down near a major airport, the questions arrive faster than the answers. The crash at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025, was one of those moments — four lives lost, an airport shut down, and an investigation still unfolding.

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Date of crash: July 13, 2025 ·
Location: London Southend Airport, Essex, UK ·
Fatalities: 4 (all on board) ·
Survivors: 0 ·
Aircraft type: Small plane (model not yet released) ·
Investigation: AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • A small medical transport plane crashed at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025, shortly after takeoff (The Independent)
  • All four people on board were killed (The Independent)
  • The aircraft was operated by Dutch-based Zeusch Aviation (NL Times)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact cause of the crash — mechanical failure or human factors are under investigation (NL Times)
  • Aircraft model and registration have not been formally released (Evening Standard)
  • Timeline for the AAIB’s final investigation report is unknown (NL Times)
3Timeline signal
  • July 13, 2025: Crash occurs; airport suspended; emergency services respond (Sky News report)
  • July 16, 2025: Southend Airport partially reopens (Evening Standard)
  • July 24, 2025: Victims named by BBC (Capt Danny Franken, first officer Floris Rhee, Dr Mathias Eyl, Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz) (Sky News report)
4What’s next
  • AAIB investigation continues; cause not yet determined (NL Times)
  • Dutch Safety Board is part of the investigative team but not on site (NL Times)
  • Airport operating with restrictions; EasyJet resumed flights (Evening Standard)

Six key facts, one pattern: the accident fits a tragic but familiar profile — a small aircraft, a short flight, no survivors, and a multi-agency probe that will take months.

The pattern: this was a repositioning flight for a medical crew, not a scheduled passenger service.

Attribute Details
Incident type Plane crash after takeoff
Aircraft Small plane (model pending) — operated by Zeusch Aviation (NL Times)
Fatalities 4 (all on board) (The Independent)
Date July 13, 2025
Airport status Partially reopened July 16, 2025 (Evening Standard)
Investigation AAIB — cause not yet determined (NL Times)

What was the plane that crashed at Southend Airport?

Aircraft type and operation

The aircraft was a small medical transport plane operated by Zeusch Aviation (NL Times), a Dutch charter company. Its exact model and registration have not been publicly released by the AAIB. Witnesses described seeing the plane erupt into a fireball shortly after takeoff (Sky News report).

Flight origin and destination

According to Dutch and British media, the plane had flown from Athens to Pula (Croatia) and then to Southend earlier on July 13. It was en route to Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands when it crashed within the airport boundary after getting into difficulty (NL Times; Sky News report).

The pattern

This was a repositioning flight for a medical crew — not a scheduled passenger service. That explains why only four people were on board and why the investigation involves both British and Dutch authorities.

Who were the victims of the Southend Airport crash?

Victims named by BBC

On July 24, 2025, the BBC published the names of the four deceased. They were Capt Danny Franken (53), First Officer Floris Rhee (24), Dr Mathias Eyl (46), and Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz (31) (The Independent). Essex Police initially said they believed all four were foreign nationals (The Independent).

Profile of the four deceased

Sky News reported that the victims were three men and one woman (NL Times). Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz was a nurse from Chile, working as a medical attendant on the flight (The Independent). The two pilots were Dutch nationals employed by Zeusch Aviation (Evening Standard). Dr Mathias Eyl was a German physician.

Why this matters

The multinational crew highlights the cross-border nature of medical aviation. For the families in the Netherlands, Chile, and Germany, the wait for answers from the AAIB is compounded by distance and different legal frameworks.

The implication: the victim profile confirms this was an international medical repatriation team, not a local flight.

What is the current status of Southend Airport after the crash?

Airport closure and partial reopening

London Southend Airport was shut down immediately after the crash. EasyJet cancelled all flights on July 13 and advised passengers to check for updates the next day (Evening Standard). The airport partially reopened on July 16, 2025, allowing flights to resume with restrictions while the AAIB continued its forensic examination of the crash site.

AAIB investigation progress

The British Air Accidents Investigation Branch is leading the inquiry (NL Times). The Dutch Safety Board confirmed it is part of the investigation team but has no personnel stationed in England (NL Times). As of late July 2025, the cause — whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or external factors — remains undetermined.

The implication: the AAIB’s preliminary report, expected within weeks, will be the first concrete clue. Until then, Southend Airport’s partial reopening is the only tangible step forward.

Timeline of the Southend Airport plane crash

  • July 13, 2025: Small plane crashes shortly after takeoff; all 4 on board killed (The Independent)
  • July 13–14, 2025: Emergency response; airport closed; Essex Police declare serious incident (Sky News report)
  • July 14, 2025: News outlets report crash; four dead confirmed
  • July 16, 2025: Southend Airport partially reopens; flights resume with restrictions (Evening Standard)
  • July 24, 2025: Victims named by BBC: Capt Danny Franken, First Officer Floris Rhee, Dr Mathias Eyl, Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz
  • Ongoing: AAIB investigation continues; cause under investigation

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Crash occurred at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025 (The Independent)
  • Four people died; no survivors (The Independent)
  • Victims identified as per BBC report (The Independent)
  • Airport partially reopened July 16 (Evening Standard)
  • AAIB is investigating (NL Times)

What’s unclear

  • Exact cause of crash
  • Aircraft model and registration
  • Any mechanical or human factors
  • Final investigation report timeline

Official statements and key quotes

“The incident is being treated as a serious incident while inquiries continue.”

— Essex Police, as reported by Sky News (Sky News report)

“All four people on board tragically lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.”

— Prime Minister’s statement, cited by The Independent (The Independent)

“The AAIB has deployed a team to Southend to gather evidence and begin the investigation into the cause of the accident.”

— AAIB spokesperson, via NL Times (NL Times)

For the families of the four victims and the aviation community, the AAIB’s final report will be critical in determining whether this was a mechanical failure, human error, or something else. Until then, Southend Airport’s gradual return to operations offers a small sign of recovery. For Dutch and British regulators, the crash underscores the tight cooperation needed in cross-border air ambulance operations: one investigation, two countries, and a shared obligation to prevent the next tragedy.

Additional sources

nltimes.nl

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Frequently asked questions

What time did the Southend Airport plane crash happen?

The crash occurred shortly after takeoff on the afternoon of July 13, 2025. Exact time has not been officially released.

Was the plane crash at Southend Airport on a commercial flight?

No. The aircraft was a medical transport plane operated by Zeusch Aviation, carrying a crew of two pilots and two medical staff on a repositioning flight to the Netherlands.

How long was Southend Airport closed after the crash?

The airport was fully closed from July 13 until July 16, 2025, when it partially reopened with restrictions.

Are there any witnesses to the Southend Airport plane crash?

Reports describe witnesses seeing a fireball after takeoff, but no named eyewitness accounts have been published.

What safety measures have been taken since the crash?

Essex Police and the AAIB secured the crash site for investigation. The airport has resumed flights under normal safety protocols.

Has the AAIB released any preliminary report?

Not as of late July 2025. The investigation is ongoing.

Were any passengers on the ground injured?

No. All casualties were on board the aircraft; no ground injuries were reported.

Is London Southend Airport fully operational now?

The airport partially reopened on July 16, 2025. Some flights have resumed, but the investigation continues.

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