Two pilots killed when a plane crashed at Southend Airport earlier this month have been named.
They were captain Danny Marco Franken and first officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, said flight operator Zeusch Aviation.
They are believed to be Dutch.
The Beechcraft Super King Air 200 at Schiphol in September 2024. Pic: Pascal Weste
The chartered plane, which had taken a patient to the UK for treatment, crashed shortly after take-off at the Essex airport on 13 July.
It’s thought the patient had been dropped off and the aircraft was heading back to base in the Netherlands.
Two passengers, a female nurse and a male doctor, also died.
Zeusch Aviation boss Marco Rietvelt said the pilots were «highly skilled».
«Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out,» said a statement.
«We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss.
«Our priority is to support the families of those lost, as well as our employees, during this incredibly difficult time.
«We are also fully committed to assisting the authorities in their ongoing investigation.»
Nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz was one of four killed. Pic: Facebook
The nurse who died was named in reports as 31-year-old Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, originally from Chile, and the doctor was named as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch is investigating.
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John Johnson, who was at the airport with his wife and children, said the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 crashed soon after take-off.
«It took off and about three or four seconds [later] it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head first into the ground,» he said.
The pilots had waved at his family moments earlier as they taxied the plane to the take-off position, Mr Johnson said.
Zeusch Aviation is based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.
Pic: María Fernanda Rojas Ortiz
The tragic plane crash at Southend Airport earlier this month claimed the lives of two skilled pilots, Captain Danny Marco Franken and First Officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, both believed to be Dutch nationals, according to Zeusch Aviation, the flight operator.
The chartered aircraft, a Beechcraft Super King Air 200, had completed a medical transport mission to the UK, where a patient was receiving treatment. Tragically, the plane crashed shortly after take-off at the Essex airport on 13 July. Reports suggest that the patient had been safely dropped off and the aircraft was en route back to its base in the Netherlands.
In addition to the pilots, two other passengers lost their lives in the crash: a female nurse identified as 31-year-old María Fernanda Rojas Ortiz from Chile, and a male doctor named Dr. Matthias Eyl, a German national. The loss of these dedicated healthcare professionals has deeply saddened the aviation community.
Zeusch Aviation’s CEO, Marco Rietvelt, praised the pilots for their exceptional skills and dedication to their missions. In a statement, he expressed the company’s profound shock and sorrow over the tragic incident, emphasizing their commitment to supporting the families of the deceased and cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation by the authorities.
Eyewitness John Johnson, who was present at the airport with his family, recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the crash. He described how the plane began to bank heavily to the left shortly after take-off, eventually inverting and crashing headfirst into the ground. Mr. Johnson also mentioned that the pilots had waved at his family moments before the tragic accident occurred.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch is currently conducting an investigation into the crash, aiming to determine the cause of the tragedy. Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, remains committed to assisting with the investigation and ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims during this incredibly difficult time. The aviation community mourns the loss of these talented individuals and remains united in support and solidarity. Image: Facebook
The nurse who passed away has been identified as 31-year-old Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz from Chile, and the doctor as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch in the UK is currently looking into the incident.
John Johnson, who was present at the airport with his family, witnessed the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 crash shortly after takeoff. He described how the plane banked heavily to the left, inverted, and crashed into the ground. The pilots had even waved at his family before the tragic accident occurred. Zeusch Aviation operates from Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.
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