Philadelphia plane crash: All you need to know about the accident

Another plane crash just now in Philadelphia; we can’t rush to judgment until we know if the pilot is black or white.pic.twitter.com/7zSG1n0rn1

— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) January 31, 2025

A doorbell camera captured the moment the plane fell from the sky in a streak of white before hitting the ground and erupting into a fireball. “All we heard was a loud roar and didn’t know where it was coming from. We just turned around and saw the big plume,” said Jim Quinn, who owns the camera.

Where it happened

The crash occurred in Rhawnhurst, a densely populated neighbourhood near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping centre. Emergency teams arrived quickly, shutting down roads and setting up a perimeter around the crash site. The incident happened just 3 miles (4.8 km) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which mainly serves business jets and charter flights.

Flight details

The Learjet 55 took off at 6.06 pm, climbing to an altitude of 1,600 feet (487 meters) before it suddenly disappeared from radar. The aircraft was on its way to Springfield, Missouri, and was registered to Med Jets, a medical transport company.

First responders work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia. (AP)

Eyewitness accounts

People in nearby neighbourhoods described the crash as a terrifying event. Michael Schiavone, who lives in Mayfair, said he heard a loud bang, and his house shook. “It felt like a mini-earthquake,” he recalled.

When he checked his home security footage, he saw what looked like a missile falling from the sky. “For a second, I thought we were under attack,” he added, as reported by Associated Press (AP).

Emergency response

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro assured residents that all state resources would be made available to assist in the response. A large number of police and fire trucks arrived at the scene, initially causing chaos as roads were closed and people were told to move away. As the night progressed, the sirens faded, and the area became quieter.

Smoke rises as first responders work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP)

Crash comes amid recent aviation tragedy

This crash happened just two days after the deadliest air disaster in the US in decades. On Wednesday, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided midair with a US Army helicopter carrying three soldiers over Washington, DC No one survived that crash.

About the plane’s owner

The aircraft belonged to Jet Rescue, a Mexico-based company specialising in air ambulance services. The company has handled high-profile medical transports, including flying baseball legend David Ortiz to Boston after he was shot in the Dominican Republic in 2019.

Investigation underway: FAA and NTSB lead the probe

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now leading the investigation. The NTSB stated that it is currently collecting information about the incident.

(with inputs from agencies)