One of the two Dutch pilots who died in the plane crash in London on Sunday also worked for KLM. The airline announced this on Tuesday. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Two other occupants also died.
“Among the four deceased persons is also a KLM colleague. We are deeply saddened,” KLM writes in a statement. A Dutch co-pilot and two other occupants also died in the crash near London Southend Airport. The identity of the other victims is still unknown.
According to Sky News, two passengers are involved, including a nurse from Chile. The local police have not yet confirmed this. They only report that the victims were not of British nationality.
The plane was en route to Lelystad Airport and crashed shortly after takeoff, near the runway. Witnesses told British media that they saw a large fireball when the plane crashed. The accident was also visible from the departure hall of the airport.
The aircraft belongs to the Dutch company Zeusch Aviation, which specializes in medical evacuations and transplant flights and provides private charters. It is unclear whether the plane was engaged in a medical evacuation or whether a patient was on board during the crash.
Nothing is yet known about the cause of the crash. The investigation at the airport is still ongoing. The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) is involved in the investigation. The airport is closed until further notice and all flights have been cancelled.
