LIVE UPDATE 4pm: The British Transport Police have reported that US Airways flight US132 suffered engine failure due to a drone collision 1500 metre above ground minutes after taking off from London City Airport, after initial reports of a birdstrike.
Drone debris has been recovered after examination of the engines. Work is currently underway to retrieve the aircraft from the river for AAIB.
The plane crashed into the River Thames earlier this afternoon after failing to return to London City Airport due to lack of engine power.
All passengers on board the flight were saved, with only one rushed to hospital due to a heart attack.
Passengers are currently being taken back to the airport, where they will continue their onward journey.
LIVE UPDATE 3:35pm: Essex Police have confirmed that all the passengers and crew are now safely ashore after being evacuated from the airplane which crashed on the Thames earlier this afternoon.
One passenger has been reported to have been rushed to Queens Hospital in Romford after experiencing a suspected heart attack.
Arrangements are currently being made to transport passengers back to London City Airport for onward journey.
No further details can be confirmed.
LIVE UPDATE 3:25pm: It has been confirmed that all the passengers aboard the plane that crashed on the Thames this afternoon have survived.
It’s reported that the passengers have been provided ‘with food and drinks after the ordeal, as well as phone and WiFi to contact relatives’, according to Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre account on X.
The plane went down earlier this afternoon after the pilot reported and engine failure. It is still unknown as to what caused the engine to fail after the departure from London City Airport.
LIVE UPDATE 3:20pm: The first of the passengers rescued from the Thames plane crash this afternoon have been safely transported ashore on life rafts towed by the RNLI.
Essex ambulance crew have arrived at the scene and are carrying out medical checks and treat two of the passengers for minor injuries.
US Airways staff have reported that the 42 passengers aboard the aircraft and 6 crew have all been accounted for.
No further details can be confirmed.
LIVE UPDATE 3:10pm: Passenger, Nadine Johnson, aboard the plane that crashed into the river Thames earlier this afternoon has reported that the plane has landed in ‘one piece’ after the initial report of the incident at 2:30pm this afternoon.
Nadine Johnson recently tweeted that she is ‘standing on the wing of the plane’, confirming that so far there are no serious casualties. She goes on to thank the pilot and share an image of her view from the wing of the plane.
Due to the nature of the tweet, we can assume that the passengers are, so far, safe and being rescued by emergency services currently on the scene.
The plane took off from London City Airport this afternoon and shortly reported engine failure minutes after take off. The plane was forced to crash into the Thames due to lack of power to return to the departure airport.
No further details can be confirmed.
LIVE UPDATE 3pm: Officers from Essex Police have officially arrived at the scene of the Thames plane crash, including a RNLI lifeboat from Gravesend. It has been reported that another RNLI lifeboat from Southend is on route.
The aircraft is said to be 100 metres offshore at Purfleet RSPB Reserve. Witnesses and emergency service units have also confirmed that passengers have been moved on to the wings and on to life reserves at the doors of the plane.
The story that was reported earlier by @thamestweets has taken X by storm, with the hashtag Thamesplane trending, allowing live updates from eye witnesses.
So far, no casualties have been reported. No further details can be confirmed.
LIVE UPDATE 2:50pm: It has been confirmed by London City Airport officials that air marshals lost contact with US Airways Flight US132 at 2:31pm today, minutes after the crash was reported on X.
Officials say that the flight had just taken off from London City Airport (LCY) this afternoon, before the pilot reported engine failure. This led to the pilot attempting to land the plane into the water due to lack of engine power to return to LCY.
The plane was set to arrive in Amsterdam later this afternoon.
We are still unaware of any casualties. No further details can be confirmed.
LIVE UPDATE 2:40pm: Emergency services from all surrounding areas are currently attending the plane crash on the River Thames near Rainham Marsh, supported by units from Kent and Essex. Thames River police and RNLI are also headed to the scene. This was confirmed by the verified London Fire Service account on X, formally known as Twitter.
The crash was reported at 2:30pm today on X by an unverified account. We are still unaware to what caused the plane to crash on the. river, and whether the plane was departing or arriving in the UK.
At 2:30pm, a Tweet claiming a US Airways passenger airplane has landed on the River Thames near Rainham Marshes. Right now, we are not aware as to why the plane has crashed and if there are any casualties.
The picture posted on X, formally known as Twitter, by @thamestweets shows the passengers safely exiting the aircraft via life rafts, however, there have been no further developments as of yet. We are unsure if emergency services have responded to the incident.
Reporters are headed to the scene and following the story on X for any live updates from witnesses currently at the scene.