Southend Airport welcomed a rare visitor at the weekend when a large oil spill response aircraft landed at the airport. 

The Boeing 727 aircraft G-OSRB - operated by 2Excel Aviation on behalf of Oil Spill Response Limited - has been specially converted to respond to oil spills in the oceans anywhere in the world.

After landing at Southend on Sunday afternoon, it has been announced the airport will be used as the aircraft's new operational base, alongside fellow oil spill response aircraft G-OSRA.

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An Oil Spill Response spokesman said: "LSA [London Southend Airport] was carefully chosen for its unique provision of side-by-side hangarage.

"This feature will ensure that our aircraft remain protected from the elements, maintaining the highest levels of serviceability and performance."

The aircraft arrived back to the UK after completing a standby operation supporting the UNDP and the FSO Safer oil transfer activities, as more than 1.1 million barrels of oil was removed from a decaying tanker in the Red Sea.

It was stationed in Djibouti, ready to respond if needed. Thankfully, the aircraft remained at Djibouti and returned to the UK once the transfer was complete.

The jets had been temporarily based at Teeside Airport since September before making the Southend Jet Centre hangar their new home this week.