A German national born in Chile was one of four fatalities in a medical transport aircraft crash near London Southend Airport, England, shortly after takeoff on the afternoon of Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, age 31, was serving as a flight nurse on her first day aboard the Beech B200 Super King Air when the plane nose-dived around 3:48 p.m. The flight, managed by Zeusch Aviation, had delivered a patient to the Essex airport and was en route back to Lelystad, Netherlands.
Essex Police Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin confirmed the deaths of all four people on board. The deceased included Rojas Ortiz, two Dutch pilots, and Dr. Matthias Eyl, a 46-year-old German paramedic and doctor.
Rojas Ortiz previously worked as a nurse in the public sector before transitioning to a private medical company. Her friends mentioned she got married in February 2024 and was enthusiastic about her new role. Anna Smith, a friend, described her to the BBC as the “kindest soul” and noted, “She was so excited for this new job.”
The plane had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, and then reached Southend on Sunday. Flight tracking showed the aircraft taxied and prepared for departure before veering off the runway. Flightradar24 indicated that the plane took off at 3:48 p.m., headed for Lelystad, when the incident happened.
John Johnson, an eyewitness at the airport with his family, recounted the moments leading up to the crash. His family waved to the pilots, who reciprocated, before the aircraft turned to face the runway. He observed the plane take off normally but bank heavily left within seconds, inverting and crashing, followed by a fiery explosion.
The twin-engine turboprop, capable of carrying around 12 passengers, was outfitted to transport patients. Zeusch Aviation confirmed the involvement of flight SUZ1 in the crash and is assisting authorities in the investigation.
Emergency services responded promptly, with the East of England Ambulance Service deploying multiple units, including four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, and air ambulance support. The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service dispatched four crews equipped with off-road vehicles.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has initiated a detailed investigation. Senior inspector Lisa Fitzsimons stated that a team of eight inspectors, skilled in operations, human factors, engineering, and data analysis, was at the crash site. She cautioned against early speculation on the cause but emphasized that any safety lessons would lead to recommendations.
The Civil Aviation Authority established an air exclusion zone around the site to facilitate the investigation. London Southend Airport remained closed, with flights canceled or diverted. EasyJet confirmed that diversions or cancellations of its remaining flights were expected.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed condolences via social media, acknowledging the loss and expressing gratitude to emergency responders. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated she is closely monitoring the situation and receiving updates.
Friends of Rojas Ortiz set up a GoFundMe page for her family, referring to her as “beloved Feña” and expressing their grief. The funds aim to cover expenses for transfers, paperwork, potential travel, and funeral arrangements. Plans include repatriating her remains to Chile for burial alongside her father.
The investigation involves Essex Police, the AAIB, the Royal Air Force, Essex Fire and Rescue, and London Southend Airport. Authorities are interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage collected from the scene.
