Small plane crashes at London Southend Airport

MANCHESTER, England — A small plane has crashed at London Southend Airport on England's southeast coast, police said on Sunday.

"We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Southend Airport," the local Essex Police said, adding that they were alerted just before 4 p.m. to reports of a collision involving a 12-meter plane.

It was unclear how many people were on the plane.

Images from British newspaper websites, not verified by Reuters, showed a fireball rising into the air above Southend Airport, around 35 miles (56 km) east of London.

The East of England Ambulance Service said it had sent four ambulances and other response vehicles.

The airport's website showed five international flights had been cancelled following the accident. — Reuters