Essex Police said they were alerted shortly before 4pm on Sunday to reports of a serous collision involving one 12-metre plane.

The pilots of a small plane that burst into a fireball at Southend Airport had waved at children just moments before it crashed, a witness has said.

Essex Police were alerted shortly before 4pm on Sunday to “reports of a collision involving one 12-metre plane” at the airport and remain on the scene of the “serious incident”.

Images posted on social media appeared to show a large fireball at the Essex airport before black smoke was spotted coming from the crash site.

The airport announced it is closed until further notice, with all flights to and from it cancelled.

Passengers due to travel on Monday via the airport are advised to contact their airline.

Southend Airport said: “Our thoughts are with those affected by today’s events and all passengers impacted by this disruption.

“We will restart flight operations as soon as possible and will continue to update the public on developments.”

John Johnson, who was at the airport with his children and wife, said he saw a “big fireball” after the plane crashed “head first into the ground”.

Mr Johnson, from Billericay, told the PA news agency: “We all waved at the pilots, and they all waved back at us.

“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.”

He added: “I’d say that we’re pretty shaken up. I just feel sad for the people who were on the plane and, of course, their loved ones and their family, our thoughts are with them.”

As a precaution because of their proximity to the incident, police said they evacuated the Rochford Hundred Golf Club and Westcliff Rugby Club.

A bartender at the golf club, which is next door to the airport, said he felt a “big heat wave” before looking up to a “massive fireball” in the sky.

James Philpott 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 and I just felt like a big heat wave come through and I looked up and there was just a massive fireball basically 100 foot in the sky.

“It was more the heat really just kind of hit me as I was sitting there, just like, feel like I’m baking.”

He continued: “I think everyone was just quite shocked to be honest. People were sort of running towards it to see if anyone was injured or anything.”

Mr Philpott said he and others were collected from the course and taken back to the clubhouse where they remain now at a “safe distance” with the club closed.

According to the airport’s website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon have been cancelled.

Essex Fire Service said it was called to an incident involving a “light aircraft” at the airport at 3.58pm on Sunday.

Five firefighter crews and two off-road vehicles initially attended the scene and the fire service has told people to avoid the area if possible.

In a post on X, David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: “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 City councillor Matt Dent added: “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.”