Tragedy in the Skies: Inquest Reveals Devastating Cause of Death in Southend Plane Crash

Published: 31st July 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

The quiet afternoon skies over Essex turned deadly on July 13 when a medical repatriation aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Southend Airport, claiming the lives of four people on board. Now, in a somber update, Essex Coroner’s Court has revealed the causes of death of the victims, painting a harrowing picture of the final moments of the ill-fated flight.

The aircraft, a Beechcraft operated by Dutch aviation company Zeusch Aviation, had just completed a patient transfer mission to the UK and was en route back to the Netherlands when it came down inside the airport boundary at approximately 3:58pm. The victims were identified as pilot Danny Marco Franken, 53, and first officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, 24, both Dutch nationals, alongside German doctor Matthias Eyl, 46, and nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, from Troisdorf, Germany.

At the opening of the inquests into their deaths, held at Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford, Senior Coroner Lincoln Brooks described the crash as an “absolute tragedy.” Addressing the court, Brooks said he had personally attended the crash site and praised the professionalism of Essex Police and the disaster victim identification teams who operated in line with Interpol guidelines. “My heart goes out to the families, loved ones and friends of all four victims,” he said. “On any view, it’s a terrible loss.”

Formal identification of the victims was carried out using a combination of disaster protocols, DNA evidence, dental records, and personal belongings. Post-mortem examinations conducted by Home Office pathologist Dr Ben Swift determined that all four individuals died from multiple severe traumatic injuries, with traumatic head injuries being the principal cause in each case.

Captain Franken, a seasoned pilot from Harderwijk in the Netherlands, was identified through dental records and suffered catastrophic trauma, including to the head. His co-pilot, Mr Rhee, who was also from the Netherlands, succumbed to similar fatal injuries, with the inquest hearing that he too was identified by dental and forensic methods.

Dr Matthias Eyl, a German physician onboard the flight, was identified through DNA analysis and witness evidence. His exact cause of death remains “pending further investigation,” though preliminary findings list traumatic head injury as the leading factor. Nurse Maria Rojas Ortiz was also confirmed to have died from severe head trauma. Her identification was made possible via DNA testing and dental comparisons.

The four had just completed a life-saving mission, flying a patient to the UK for urgent medical treatment, underscoring the humanitarian role such flights play across borders. The fact that such a crew, dedicated to healing and support, should perish in a moment of unexpected catastrophe has added to the depth of grief felt by the aviation and medical communities alike.

Senior Coroner Brooks announced that the full inquest into the deaths would be postponed until 15 June 2026 to allow time for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to complete its report. The AAIB continues its probe into the exact cause of the crash, with investigators expected to examine every aspect of the flight’s operation, mechanical condition, and environmental factors surrounding the incident.

“I’ve been heavily involved and express my gratitude to Essex Police and all the team involved over the past few weeks. I’m satisfied with the evidence provided so far,” Brooks added as he formally adjourned the inquests.

The Southend crash has become a stark reminder of the risks faced even by civilian and medical flight crews operating under standard conditions. As the AAIB investigation proceeds, the families of those who lost their lives are left to mourn — awaiting answers, and seeking closure for a tragedy that unfolded not in a conflict zone, but in the ordinary skies above a peaceful English airport.