Huge fireball erupts at London airport as plane crashes into ground just seconds after take-off

"All emergency services" had descended on the scene following the crash, Essex Police said.

A selection of easyJet flights were also called off.

Dramatic footage from the scene shows passengers boarding a separate aircraft as smoke rose into the sky.

While one witness, Dani Hill, told local outlet Your Southend: "I saw the huge fireball from my window. I'm still shaking like mad.

"I've never seen anything like it. Praying all involved are ok."

SOUTHEND CRASH: Watch the moment smoke and flames rise over tarmac after fireball eruption

One local, John Johnson from nearby Billericay, shared a chilling anecdote from just minutes before the crash.

"We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us," he said. "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 head first 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."

A statement from Essex Police reads: "We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport. We were alerted shortly before 4pm to reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane.

"We are working with all emergency services at the scene now, and that work will be ongoing for several hours.

"We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.

"As a precaution due to their proximity to the incident, we are evacuating the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club."

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James Philpott, a bartender at the golf club, 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... I just felt like a big heat wave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball 100 feet in the sky.

"It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there... I felt like I was baking."

"I think everyone was just quite shocked to be honest. People were running towards it to see if anyone was injured or anything."

Philpott added that he and others were collected from the course then taken back to the clubhouse, where they remain at a "safe distance" with the club closed.

Later on Sunday, footage emerged from the club in the moments immediately following the crash.

Hero golfers and golf carts were seen racing towards the crash site to see if they could help as smoke billowed into the sky.

Essex County Fire & 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."

Labour's Southend West & Leigh MP David Burton-Sampson also said this afternoon: "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."

Southend councillor Matt Dent said: "I am aware of the live serious incident ongoing at London Southend Airport.

"At present all I know is that a small plane has crashed at the airport. My thoughts are with all those involved, and with the emergency services currently responding to the incident."