No details on where the plane was heading or how many people were on board were immediately disclosed.

In a statement on social media, the airport confirmed a “serious incident” involving what it termed a general aviation aircraft.

Images posted on social media show a plume of fire and black smoke emanating from the crash site. The plane involved is said to be 12 metres long.

Witness John Johnson, who was at the airport with his family, said he saw a “big fireball” after the plane “crashed head first into the ground”.

“It took off and about three or four seconds after taking off, it started to bank heavily to its left, and then within a few seconds of that happening, it more or less inverted and crashed just head-first into the ground,” he said.

“There was a big fireball.”

Johnson said that before the plane got into position for take-off, he and his family waved at the pilots and “they all waved back at us”.

After the crash, Johnson said the airport’s fire service responded straight away, with two fire engines sent to the crash site, followed by local police, ambulance and fire services.

Essex Police said it was alerted just before 4pm local time (1am Monday AEST) to the “serious incident” at the relatively small airport, which is around 72km east of the capital.

“We are working with all emergency services at the scene now and that work will be ongoing for several hours,” Essex Police said.

As a precaution due to their proximity to the incident, police evacuated a local golf club and rugby club.

The local member of parliament, David Burton-Sampson, urged people to stay away and let the emergency services do their work.

“My thoughts are with everyone involved,” he said.

According to the airport’s website, four flights scheduled to take off on Sunday afternoon were canceled.