Philadelphia plane crash: Six on board, one on ground among dead in Medical jet crash
All six people onboard—Mexican nationals, including a child patient receiving treatment in Philadelphia—died, along with one person on the ground.
Investigators work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Seven people were killed after a medical transport plane crashed into a northeast Philadelphia neighbourhood on Friday, setting multiple homes ablaze.
All six people onboard—Mexican nationals, including a child patient receiving treatment in Philadelphia—died, along with one person on the ground. Nineteen others were injured, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said.
The Learjet 55 crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff, erupting into a fireball. The victims included the pediatric patient, her mother, a doctor, a paramedic, the pilot, and the co-pilot. The young girl had been receiving treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was en route to Tijuana, Mexico, with a planned stop in Springfield, Missouri.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed condolences, stating that consular authorities were in contact with the victims’ families and offering support.
The scene between Calvert and Rupert Streets after a small plane crashed near Roosevelt Mall, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Philadelphia. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
“I mourn the passing of six Mexicans in the aviation accident in Philadelphia, United States,” Sheinbaum said in a Spanish-language post on X. “Consular authorities are in constant contact with the families; I’ve asked the foreign affairs secretary to support whatever is needed. My solidarity with their loved ones and friends.”
The aircraft, registered in Mexico, was operated by Jet Rescue, a medical transport company. This marks the second fatal crash involving the company in 15 months; in 2023, five crew members died when a Jet Rescue plane overran a runway in Mexico and crashed into a hillside.
The crash site, less than three miles (4.8km) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, saw multiple structures engulfed in flames. Emergency officials warned that casualty figures could change as authorities continue assessing the damage.
Flight data showed the jet took off at 6:06 pm and disappeared from radar at an altitude of 1,600 feet (487 metres). It was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The cause of the crash remains unclear, and investigations are underway by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Firefighters and emergency personnel work at the rear of 7270 Calvert Street after a small plane crashed near Roosevelt Mall, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Philadelphia. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro pledged state resources for the emergency response, while President Donald Trump expressed condolences, commending first responders for their swift actions.
The incident comes just two days after the deadliest US air disaster in a generation, when an American Airlines jet collided midair with a military helicopter near Washington, DC, killing all 67 people aboard.
(With Inputs from Reuters, AP)
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