'Serious incident' as plane crashes at Southend Airport
· RTE.iePolice in the UK have said a serious incident has been declared at London Southend Airport after a small aircraft crashed.
Essex Police said they were alerted shortly before 4pm to "reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane" and that they remain on the scene of the "serious incident".
Southend Airport said in a statement: "We can confirm there has been a serious incident at London Southend Airport this afternoon involving a general aviation aircraft.
"We are working closely with the local authorities and will be able to provide more information as soon as possible."
Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke coming up from the crash site.
The pilots of the plane waved at children shortly before the collision, a witness has said.
John Johnson, who was at the airport with his children and wife, said he saw a "big fireball" after the plane crashed "headfirst into the ground".
Mr Johnson said: "We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us.
"The aircraft then turned 180 degrees to face its take-off, departure, powered up, rolled down the runway.
"It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, 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 headfirst into the ground.
"There was a big fireball. Obviously, everybody was in shock in terms of witnessing it.
"All the kids saw it and the families saw it. I phoned 999, reported it."
He added: "I'd say that we're pretty shaken up.
"I just feel sad for the people who were on the plane and, of course, their loved ones and their family, our thoughts are with them."
As a precaution because of their proximity to the incident, police said they are evacuating the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club.
The chairman of Westcliff Rugby Club, which is near Southend Airport, later said people at the club did not end up having to evacuate following the plane crash.
"That didn't happen in the end," Pete Jones said, before adding, "(Police) changed their mind.
"We've got a big event there, 250 people, and they just said no, you don't have to evacuate."
Mr Jones said the aircraft went down about 1km from the clubhouse and that people there could see smoke in the aftermath.
A barman at the golf club, which is next door to the 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.
In a statement, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to an incident involving a light aircraft at Southend Airport today at 3.58pm.
"Crews from Southend (two), Rayleigh Weir and Basildon (two), along with off road vehicles from Billericay and Chelmsford attended.
"We are continuing to work at the scene with our emergency services and aviation partners."
The East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, four hazardous area response team vehicles, three senior paramedic cars and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance have been sent to the incident.
According to the airport's website, four flights scheduled to take off this afternoon were cancelled.
Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh David Burton-Sampson said: "I am aware of an incident at Southend Airport.
"Please keep away and allow the emergency services to do their work.
"My thoughts are with everyone involved."
Essex Police said they remain on the scene alongside fire and ambulance services.