Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, has confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the crash at Southend Airport on Sunday.

A statement from the firm said: “We can confirm that Zeusch Aviation flight SUZ1 was involved in an accident today at London Southend Airport.

“We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates on this page as more information becomes available.

“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.”

A police cordon is currently in place while emergency services carry out their work.

Essex police said the cordon will be in place overnight and into tomorrow morning.

Members of the public have been asked to avoid the area while this work is carried out.

Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said: “I fully appreciate the desire for more information in this matter, and we will share as much as we can, when we can, throughout our work.

“But it is vital for all involved that this investigation is carried out thoroughly and correctly, and to do that we will all need time.”

A bartender at Rochford Hundred Golf Club, which is next door to Southend Airport, said he felt a “big heat wave” before looking up to a “massive fireball” in the sky.

James Philpott told the BBC: “I was just basically in a hut like in the middle of the course and I didn’t even see any plane go down or anything and I just felt like a big heat wave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky.

“It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like feel like I’m baking.”

He continued: “I think everyone was just quite shocked to be honest.

“People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured or anything.”

Mr Philpott said he and others were collected from the course and taken back to the clubhouse where they remain now at a “safe distance” with the club closed.

The b200 aircraft reportedly involved in the crash is a small 12 metre plane.

The plane registered PH-ZAZ, was configured as a luxury private aeroplane with eight seats and a comfortable leather interior, according to a commercial charter website.

The Telegraph reported the plane – a Beechcraft King Air B200- is built with a jet turbine that spins a propeller and can carry more than 20 people.

The US-made planes are often used as short-haul charter airliners and for carrying light freight.

It also carries out medical evacuation flights.

Flightradar also indicates the operator was Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch company that specialises in medical evacuation services and transplant flights as well as private charters.

Zeusch Aviation listed the aircraft as available for “Medevac [medical evacuation]/ Repatriation / Transplant flights Service” on their own social media profile.

Pictures of the incident showed black smoke billowing from the wreckage.

It’s not yet known how many passengers were on board, or if there were any casualties – however, details have emerged on the 12-metre plane involved.

Flight tracking data suggests the aircraft was a Beech B200 Super King Air, a US built aircraft with a jet turbine that can carry more than 20 people.

• A plane crashed after take-off at Southend Airport on Sunday afternoon, described by police as a “serious incident”.
• Emergency services, including Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service, and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, were alerted shortly before 4pm.
• The incident involved a 12-metre plane, with images showing a plume of fire and black smoke from the crash site.
• Police said as a precaution Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club were evacuated due to their proximity to the crash. However, the Rugby club has since said this was not the case.
• Four flights scheduled for Sunday afternoon from Southend Airport were cancelled following the incident and the airport is to remain closed until further notice.
• A police cordon will remain in place until Monday morning, Essex police said, this is to allow emergency services to investigate the scene.
• The plane involved in the crash was reportedly a Beech B200 Super King Air.

• According to flight-tracking service Flightradar, it took off at 3.48pm and was bound for Lelystad, a city in the Netherlands.
• Flightradar also indicates the operator was Zeusch Aviation, a Dutch company that specialises in medical evacuation services and transplant flights as well as private charters.
• It is unknown if there were any casualties.

Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, has confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the crash at Southend Airport on Sunday.

A statement from the firm said: “We can confirm that Zeusch Aviation flight SUZ1 was involved in an accident today at London Southend Airport.

“We are actively supporting the authorities with the investigation and will provide updates on this page as more information becomes available.

“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.”

All flights to and from Southend Airport have been cancelled and the airport is set to remain closed until further notice.

A spokesperson said: “Due to a serious incident today at London Southend Airport, we regret to advise that the Airport is closed until further notice.

“All flights to and from the Airport have been cancelled while Police, emergency services and air accident investigators are attending the incident.

“We ask that any passengers due to travel tomorrow via London Southend Airport contact their airline for information and advice.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by today’s events and all passengers impacted by this disruption. We will restart flight operations as soon as possible and will continue to update the public on developments.”

A police cordon is also set to remain in place until Monday morning while emergency services carry out their work.