PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A devastating aviation accident unfolded in Philadelphia on Friday evening as a medical transport jet, en route to deliver a child patient home, crashed shortly after takeoff. The fiery crash, involving a Learjet 55, occurred in a residential neighborhood, tragically impacting homes and leaving no confirmed survivors among the six individuals on board.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the operator of the flight, released a somber statement indicating the grim outlook for those aboard. “We cannot confirm any survivors,” the statement read, casting a pall over the unfolding tragedy. As the community grappled with the shock, the immediate aftermath focused on assessing whether anyone on the ground had also perished in the crash.
All six individuals aboard the Medical Plane Transport were nationals of Mexico. The flight was carrying a young patient who had received critical medical care in Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition. Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold explained that the air ambulance was tasked with transporting the child and her mother back home to Tijuana, with a scheduled stop in Missouri. The crew comprised seasoned professionals, a point emphasized by Gold, who highlighted the rigorous training undertaken by all personnel involved in these critical medical flights.
“When an incident like this occurs in medical plane transport, it is profoundly shocking and unsettling,” Gold conveyed to The Associated Press. He underscored the unwavering commitment to safety within the company, stating, “All of our medical aircraft are meticulously maintained; no expense is spared because we are acutely aware of the criticality of our mission in medical air transport.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the press late Friday, expressing the grim expectation of fatalities in what he termed an “awful aviation disaster.” The somber announcement underscored the severity of the incident and the likely loss of life associated with this medical plane transport crash.
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“We anticipate loss in this heartbreaking event,” he stated, acknowledging the tragic outcome of the medical plane crash.
The aircraft involved in the medical plane transport was registered in Mexico. Jet Rescue, while based in Mexico, maintains operational facilities both in its home country and within the United States, highlighting its role in international medical patient transfer.
This Philadelphia crash marks the second fatal incident for Jet Rescue in a relatively short period, raising concerns about safety in the critical field of medical plane transport. In 2023, a previous accident involving the company resulted in the deaths of five crew members when their aircraft overran a runway in Morelos, Mexico.
Adding to the horror, the Philadelphia crash occurred just two days after what has been described as the deadliest U.S. air disaster in a generation. The mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, served as a stark reminder of the inherent risks in aviation, and this latest medical plane crash further underscores those dangers within specialized air transport services.
A chilling account from a doorbell camera captured the Learjet 55 plummeting from the sky, leaving a white streak against the evening sky before erupting in flames upon impact. The crash site, near a shopping mall and a major roadway, painted a scene of devastation.
Jim Quinn, owner of the doorbell camera that recorded the disaster, recounted the terrifying moment. “All we heard was an intense roar, and we were completely unsure of its origin. We turned to look and were confronted by a massive plume of smoke,” he described, conveying the sudden and shocking nature of the medical plane crash.
The crash site was located less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, an airport primarily serving business aviation and charter flights, including medical plane transport operations.
Flight tracking data from Flight Aware indicated that the Learjet 55, registered to a company operating as Med Jets, vanished from radar shortly after its 6:06 p.m. takeoff. The aircraft reached an altitude of only 1,600 feet (487 meters) before the catastrophic event.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the tragedy on social media, stating on Truth Social, “So sad to witness the plane crash in Philadelphia.” His brief message reflected the national attention drawn to the medical plane transport disaster. “More innocent lives lost,” he added, “Our people are fully engaged in responding to this crisis.”
The immediate aftermath saw a massive influx of emergency vehicles – police cars and fire trucks – converging on the crash site. Business parking areas were quickly transformed into staging grounds for first responders. While the initial chaos of sirens and urgent commands gradually subsided, an eerie quiet settled over the cordoned-off area as night fell, with onlookers straining to understand the scale of the unfolding tragedy.
The medical plane crashed near Roosevelt Mall, a bustling outdoor shopping center situated in the densely populated Rhawnhurst neighborhood, underscoring the potential for even greater tragedy in such a populated area.
A witness’s cellphone video captured the chaotic scene moments after impact, revealing debris scattered across the intersection and a wall of orange flames piercing through a thick plume of black smoke. The sounds of sirens wailed in the background, painting a picture of pandemonium.
Michael Schiavone, a resident of the nearby Mayfair neighborhood, recounted the terrifying experience from his home. “There was an incredibly loud bang, and my entire house shook violently. It felt like a minor earthquake. When I checked my home security camera, it genuinely looked like a missile had struck,” he explained, conveying the sheer force of the medical plane crash. “The explosion was massive; for a moment, I genuinely believed we were under some form of attack,” Schiavone added, highlighting the disorienting and alarming nature of the event.
Jet Rescue, known for its global air ambulance services, has a history of high-profile medical transport missions. The company notably flew baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz to Boston after he sustained gunshot wounds in the Dominican Republic in 2019. More recently, Jet Rescue played a crucial role in transporting critically ill COVID-19 patients during the global pandemic, demonstrating its vital function in emergency medical services.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will spearhead the investigation into the medical plane crash. The NTSB announced the immediate deployment of an investigator to the site, with a larger team of officials expected to arrive on Saturday to commence a thorough inquiry into the causes of this medical plane transport tragedy.
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Associated Press writers Rio Yamat, Hallie Golden and Josh Cornfield contributed to this report.
