Southend Airport partially reopens after plane crash which killed four people

Southend Airport has partially reopened days after a plane crash that killed four people.

Flights to and from the airport in Essex had been suspended since Sunday afternoon when a medical transport aircraft crashed moments after taking off. A statement from the airport on Wednesday read: "London Southend Airport is today partially reopening for a small number of flights, following Sunday's tragic air accident and subsequent closure.

"Four easyJet flights will land at London Southend Airport this evening (Wednesday 16 July). Eastern Airways will also operate an empty positioning flight.

"Normal airline operations resume from the morning of Thursday 17 July." The crash saw a medical flight, chartered for a patient to be brought to the UK for treatment, come down within the airport boundary shortly after take off. It is understood the patient had been dropped off and the 12-metre plane was bound for its base in the Netherlands.

The four people who died were two male pilots, understood to be Dutch, a female nurse and a male doctor. Reports have named the nurse as Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a 31-year-old German national originally from Chile, and the doctor as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46.

"Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those who tragically lost their lives on Sunday," the Southend Airport statement continued. "Throughout the course of this week, we have continued to support the air accident investigation team as they carry out their work." Read more:Transgender changing room row nurse clearedThe British 'Thor' swimming around Iceland Essex Police said it had recovered three bodies on Tuesday, and the fourth was expected to be recovered "within the next 24 hours".

The force added that it is working with the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), which is involved in "victim recovery activities, examination of the wreckage and evidence gathering". One witness, who was at the airport with his wife and children, John Johnson, said he saw a "big fireball" exploding across the sky as the plane plunged "head first into the ground".

The pilots had waved at his family moments earlier as they taxied the plane to the take-off position, he said..