Aircraft Catches Fire at London Southend Airport, Prompting Cancellations and Evacuations

A serious incident unfolded at London Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon when an aircraft caught fire, leading to a significant response from emergency services and subsequent flight cancellations. The event, which occurred shortly before 16:00 BST, involved a 12-meter plane engulfed in flames, sending thick dark smoke into the sky. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Essex Police were alerted to the blaze and were among the first responders. They confirmed their presence at the scene, working in conjunction with other emergency services. The East of England Ambulance Service dispatched multiple resources, including four crews, a rapid response vehicle, a hazardous area response vehicle, and a senior paramedic to provide medical assistance and manage the situation.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service reported being called to the incident at 15:58. Multiple crews from Southend, Rayleigh Weir, Basildon, Billericay, and Chelmsford, equipped with off-road vehicles, attended the scene to combat the fire and ensure the safety of the area. Firefighters worked diligently alongside their emergency service and aviation partners throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Essex Police urged the public to avoid the immediate vicinity to allow emergency operations to proceed without interruption. “We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours,” the spokesperson said. “We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.”

The impact of the incident was felt across the airport, with all flights being cancelled as a precautionary measure. This disruption affected passengers with travel plans from Southend. David Burton-Sampson, the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, expressed his thoughts on social media, stating, “My thoughts are with everyone involved.”

As a safety precaution due to the airport’s proximity, authorities also ordered the evacuation of the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club. Eyewitnesses at the Westcliff Rugby Club reported that a presentation event was in progress at the time the aircraft fire was discovered.