Six Feared Dead After Medical Plane Crashes in Philadelphia

Our reporter

A medical flight crashed near a shopping centre in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, leaving six people feared dead. The Learjet, carrying a young patient, her mother, and a medical crew, went down shortly after take-off, creating a massive fireball that engulfed nearby homes and vehicles. Authorities confirmed that there were no known survivors.

The plane, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, had been transporting a female patient from Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia to Mexico for further treatment. Accompanying the patient were her mother, two pilots, a doctor, and a paramedic. All six individuals on board were Mexican nationals, according to Mexico’s Foreign Ministry.

The crash occurred at approximately 6 p.m., just minutes after the jet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The aircraft was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri for a scheduled fuel stop, before continuing on to Tijuana, Mexico.

Witnesses described a terrifying scene, with thick smoke billowing from the wreckage and a large fire spreading rapidly to nearby vehicles and buildings. The wreckage, scattered across a wide area, also set several vehicles and an apartment building ablaze. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker urged residents to avoid the crash site and stay indoors due to the hazardous conditions.

Local businesses were impacted by the explosion. Killiom Pontes, a store manager nearby, reported feeling the impact shake the windows of his shop. “At first, I thought it was an earthquake, but then we saw the huge explosion,” he said. The crash occurred near Roosevelt Mall, where the damage was significant but thankfully, no one in the immediate vicinity appeared to have been seriously hurt.

Three people were treated for injuries at Temple Health hospital, with two of them discharged after treatment. The condition of the remaining individuals, including whether they were passengers or bystanders, remains unclear.

Flight tracking data revealed the plane was descending at an alarming rate of 11,000 feet per minute before the crash. The aircraft’s final moments were marked by failed attempts at communication between the pilots and air traffic controllers. A controller reported the plane as “lost” shortly before the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Authorities have yet to determine the reason for the plane’s rapid descent.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a company known for its critical care flights, has been in operation for 27 years. This marks its second fatal accident; a previous incident in November 2023 claimed the lives of five crew members.

In a statement on social media, former President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, saying, “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia. More innocent souls lost.”

The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the circumstances leading to this tragic accident.