Tragic Southend Plane Crash: Third Victim Named as Young Co-Pilot Floris Rhee
The death toll in the devastating Zeusch Aviation crash near Southend Airport has risen. The third victim has been identified as 24-year-old co-pilot Floris Rhee, a promising pilot from the Netherlands.
Young Pilot with Big Dreams
Rhee joined Zeusch Aviation just last year, flying out of their Lelystad base. He completed his pilot training in Norway in 2023 and was known among friends as “a young man with a passion for flying and dreams of piloting for KLM one day.”
He was one of two pilots on board the Beechcraft King Air B200 that crashed moments after takeoff from Southend Airport on Sunday, 13 July, killing all four people aboard.
Flying School Pays Heartfelt Tribute
The European Pilot Selection & Training (EPST) school in Utrecht confirmed Rhee was a former student. They released a statement on Thursday expressing their sorrow:
“EPST is deeply saddened by the news that one of its former students has died in last Sunday’s Zeusch Aviation crash in Southend. Our thoughts go out to the family, Zeusch Aviation employees, friends, and former classmates. We wish them strength during this incredibly difficult time.”
Memorial Held in Netherlands
Friends and former colleagues gathered in Emmeloord, Netherlands, for a memorial service earlier this week. Those who knew Rhee remembered him as “gentle, motivated, and deeply committed to aviation.”
Local Community Honors All Victims
- Floral tributes can be laid at St Laurence and All Saints Church, Eastwoodbury Lane (SS2 6UN).
- A community memorial service will take place at St Andrew’s Church, Hall Road, Rochford (SS4 1NW) on Friday, 18 July at 5pm to honour all four victims.
The tragedy has shocked both aviation experts and locals. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the probe into the crash.
More tributes and updates will follow as families grieve and investigations continue.
