A small medical plane crashed into several buildings in northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, sparking fires and injuring people on the ground. The plane was on a mission to transport a sick child from the U.S. to Mexico when it went down. The aircraft was carrying four crew members, a child patient, and the child’s mother, who was accompanying her on the trip.
Witnesses reported a chaotic scene as debris from the plane scattered across the streets, and several buildings caught fire. Emergency responders quickly arrived to help, but the full extent of the damage and injuries is still unclear. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called it an “awful aviation disaster,” expressing his sadness and concern about the situation.
The child on board had been receiving life-saving treatment in the U.S. for a serious condition and was being flown back to Tijuana, Mexico, accompanied by her mother and a team of medical staff. According to a spokesperson for the air ambulance company, Jet Rescue, the child’s treatment had been funded by a charity. Sadly, despite her bravery, she was caught in this tragic accident on her way home.
The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia has set up a helpline for Mexican nationals who may have been affected by the crash. The city’s mayor, Cherelle Parker, has asked for prayers for those impacted and urged residents to stay away from the crash site and report any debris to 911.
The crash occurred just a few blocks from Roosevelt Mall, in a busy part of Philadelphia filled with shops and homes. Videos taken by bystanders show the plane coming down rapidly and exploding into a huge fireball, lighting up the sky. People described hearing a loud explosion and seeing burning debris flying through the air, damaging cars and setting fires in the streets. One witness said it felt like an earthquake when the plane hit, and another thought they were under attack as the sky turned orange from the flames.
The plane, a Learjet 55, took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at about 6:30 PM. Less than four miles away, it crashed, killing several people. Initially, the FAA said there were only two people on board, but they later corrected it to six. The flight was on its way to Missouri when the tragedy occurred.
Investigations are already underway by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and President Trump expressed his condolences, calling it a “sad” event. This crash came just two days after a larger collision in Washington D.C. between a commercial jet and a military helicopter, where officials believe all 67 people aboard were killed.
The community is left shaken by this tragedy, and authorities are working hard to figure out what went wrong while offering support to those affected.
