First-Day Nurse Among Southend Airport Plane Crash Victims; Police Still Looking for One More Body

A nurse who was on her first day on the job was among the casualties of the medevac flight that crashed Sunday at London Southend Airport.

Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, a German citizen originally from Chile, was on her first shift as a flight nurse when the aircraft went down shortly after take-off. The medevac flight, operated by Dutch air ambulance firm Zeusch Aviation, had completed a patient transfer from Pula, Croatia, and was en route to the Netherlands.

A close friend told BBC News Ortiz had recently transitioned from hospital nursing to aviation care and had quietly started her new role that day.

'It was her first day on the job... she was so excited,' said friend Anna Smith. Colleagues described her as compassionate, humble and deeply dedicated. She had recently married. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to repatriate her body to Chile so she can be buried beside her father.

A Doctor Also Died in the Plane Crash

Three other people on board the Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, registration PH-ZAZ, were also killed, including Dr Matthias Eyl, 46, a German physician, and two Dutch pilots who served as commander and co-pilot. Essex Police confirmed all four victims were foreign nationals. Authorities are working with embassies to notify next of kin and provide support.

Witnesses said the aircraft struggled to gain altitude before banking left and crashing in a fireball within the airport boundary. The plane had only climbed 175 feet before entering a sharp descent, according to flight-tracking data. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Emergency teams have recovered three of the four bodies, and recovery operations are ongoing. Essex Police described the task as 'extremely complex'.

One Body Still Missing

One victim remains missing. Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin assured: 'Those who have passed away will be treated with the utmost care and dignity'.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the probe, supported by Essex Fire and Rescue, the Royal Air Force, and the Civil Aviation Authority. Investigators are analysing flight data and debris to determine what caused the fatal crash.

Southend Airport Still Closed

London Southend Airport has been closed since the incident. Airport CEO Jude Winstanley expressed his condolences and confirmed that operations will resume only once it is deemed safe to do so. Flights have been redirected to nearby airports, including Gatwick and Stansted.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: 'Terrible news that four people tragically lost their lives. My thoughts are with their families and loved ones.'

Police are asking the public to submit any dashcam or mobile phone footage that might assist with the investigation. Witnesses or anyone with information from around the time of the crash—between 2.15pm and 4pm—are urged to contact the Major Incident Public Portal or Essex Police directly.