By Dayo Ade Olusola |Travel News| July 24, 2025
The two pilots who tragically lost their lives in the Southend Airport plane crash on July 13 have been formally identified as Captain Danny Marco Franken and First Officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, both from the Netherlands.
The men were flying a Beechcraft B200 aircraft operated by Zeusch Aviation when it crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was on a medical mission when it went down, killing all four people on board.
In a statement released Monday, Zeusch Aviation described Franken and Rhee as “highly respected and cherished colleagues” whose loss has deeply affected the aviation company.
“Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team,” said Marco Rietvelt, managing director of Zeusch Aviation. “Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out. We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss.”
The medical crew killed in the crash included newly recruited nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, and Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. While Zeusch Aviation confirmed the identities of the pilots, the company said it would not be providing additional information regarding the medical team members out of respect for their families’ privacy.
The small aircraft, bearing flight number SUZ1, crashed near the runway at Southend Airport, sparking a major emergency response. Witnesses described seeing a fiery explosion as the plane made a steep descent shortly after departure.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by Essex Police in coordination with the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any technical issues or external factors contributed to the fatal incident.
Flight data and cockpit recordings are expected to play a key role in determining what led to the tragic failure during the mission, which was reportedly routine in nature.
Zeusch Aviation, based in the Netherlands, specializes in medical flights, organ transport, and aerial support missions across Europe. The loss of the two veteran pilots has cast a shadow over the close-knit aviation and medical transport communities.
Families of all four victims are being supported by local authorities and consular services as investigations continue.
