Southend plane crash victims cause of death revealed as inquest provides major update

Four people killed when a medical aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Southend Airport died from severe traumatic injuries, an inquest has heard. Pilot Danny Marco Franken, 53, and first officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, 24, were among the four victims of the fatal crash, which occurred at around 3.58pm on July 13.

They had been flying a Beechcraft aircraft operated by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation when it went down within the airport boundary in Essex. Dr Matthias Eyl, 46, and nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, also died on board the flight, which was returning to the Netherlands after transporting a patient to the UK for treatment.

Opening inquests into all four deaths at Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford on Thursday, senior coroner Lincoln Brooks described the crash as an “absolute tragedy”.

He said: “I attended all four [deaths] at the scene of the crash, and I’m grateful to Essex Police who have followed Interpol guidelines for disaster victim identification.

“In respect to all four deceased, on any view it’s an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to the family, loved ones and friends of all four of the victims of this terrible crash.”

Captain Franken, from Harderwijk in the Netherlands, was formally identified using disaster protocols and dental records.

A post-mortem examination found he died from “multiple injuries including severe traumatic head injuries”.

His co-pilot, Mr Rhee, from the Netherlands, was identified using the same procedures, and also died from severe traumatic head injuries, the court heard.

Dr Eyl, a German national, was identified using DNA, personal possessions and witness evidence. His cause of death was recorded as traumatic head injuries “pending further investigation”.

Ms Rojas Ortiz, a nurse from Troisdorf, Germany, was identified using DNA and dental comparison. She also died from severe traumatic head injuries.

Home Office pathologist Dr Ben Swift conducted the post-mortem examinations for all four victims.

Mr Brooks said he would hear all four full inquests together and adjourned the proceedings until June 15, 2026, by which time a report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is expected.

He added: “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.”

The AAIB inquiry into the crash is ongoing.