A medical transport plane crashed into several buildings in northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, resulting in injuries to people on the ground and igniting fires that engulfed homes and vehicles in the area. The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was reportedly carrying a child patient, her mother, a doctor, a pilot, and a paramedic on a return flight from medical treatment in the United States to Tijuana, Mexico. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the incident as an “awful aviation disaster,” indicating the potential for loss of life.
Emergency responders responded quickly to the chaotic scene, where debris littered the streets and flames engulfed several structures. Witnesses recounted a terrifying experience, with one describing how the sky lit up due to a massive explosion as the aircraft crashed. The plane had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 6:30 PM local time and was intended to land at Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri but came down just about four miles from its departure point.
The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia has set up a helpline for affected Mexican nationals, while Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker asked city residents for prayers for those involved. She emphasized the importance of not touching any debris and instead calling emergency services.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the crash. This tragic event occurred just two days after another incident involving the collision of a commercial jet and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., which resulted in a significant loss of life. As the investigations unfold, there remains a sense of hope that lessons learned from these tragic events will lead to improvements in aviation safety and emergency response preparedness in the future.