PHILADELPHIA. A medical evacuation plane carrying a child and five others crashed shortly after takeoff in Philadelphia on Friday, with authorities still working to determine casualties. The air ambulance company, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, confirmed the incident but has not yet verified any survivors.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a Mexico-based company licensed to operate in the U.S., stated that the aircraft had four crew members, a pediatric medical patient, and the patient’s mother on board.
“At this time we cannot confirm any survivors,” the company said in an official statement.
State and local officials are still assessing the impact on the ground, as the plane crashed into a densely populated area of the city. Witnesses captured shocking footage showing debris and body parts scattered across streets and inside nearby homes.
According to CNN, the Mexican government confirmed that all those on board were Mexican nationals. The child, a girl, was en route to her home in Tijuana, accompanied by her mother, according to Shai Gold, a corporate strategist with Jet Rescue Air Ambulance.
“We are terribly shocked by this tragic turn of events,” Gold said. “This was a very seasoned crew. We are a leading air ambulance company, flying 600 to 700 times a year.” He further emphasized that the company maintains its aircraft to the highest international standards, stating that the plane was in excellent flying condition before the crash. “We really don’t know what happened,” he added.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the severity of the disaster. “We know there will be loss in this region,” he said at a press conference at the crash site. “We want to offer our thoughts and our serious prayers for those that are grieving at this moment.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the tragedy on social media, stating, “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First responders are already being given credit for doing a great job.”
The crash comes just days after a devastating collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., which resulted in 67 fatalities—the deadliest airplane crash in the U.S. since 2009.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that six people were aboard the Learjet 55, which crashed at approximately 6:30 p.m. (0030 GMT) on Friday. Local reports indicated that the crash occurred near Roosevelt Mall in northeast Philadelphia, with multiple injuries reported on the ground.
Eyewitness footage aired on local television showed the aircraft in a steep dive before striking the ground and erupting in a massive fireball. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, speaking at a press conference, described the scene as catastrophic. “Several houses and cars were engulfed in flames,” she said. “This is an all-hands-on-deck situation.”
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Weather conditions at the time included cold temperatures, rain, and low visibility. The FAA stated that the medevac plane had departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and was headed to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, approximately 1,100 miles (1,800 km) southwest.
A significant fire erupted at the crash site, with multiple fire trucks responding. Footage from the local CBS affiliate showed the fires mostly extinguished about two hours after the crash.
The Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments have yet to issue statements regarding the full extent of the casualties or damages.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
