A woman on her first day as a flight nurse has been reported among the four people who died when a medical plane crashed shortly after take-off from London Southend Airport on Sunday. Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, a German citizen born in Chile, had previously worked as a nurse in the public sector and married her partner last year.
The other victims are reported to be a Dutch pilot and co-pilot, and a European male medical professional. Their identities have not yet been officially confirmed. Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin, leading the investigation, stated that all four were foreign nationals.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, was equipped for medical transport. It had flown from Athens to Pula in Croatia before arriving at Southend, where it dropped off a patient. The plane took off at 3.48pm bound for Lelystad in the Netherlands but crashed within the airport boundary.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the victims, thanking emergency responders. Southend Airport remains closed, with dozens of flights cancelled or rerouted. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has begun a detailed investigation, with a significant air exclusion zone in place.
Friends of Ms Rojas Ortiz described her as “the kindest soul” and set up a GoFundMe page for her family. The cause of the crash is not yet known, and investigators are appealing for witnesses and video footage.
