World News

6 Dead in U.S. Airplane Crash in Philadelphia

Published by Tope Fakinlede on February 1st, 2025.

6 Dead in U.S. Airplane Crash in Philadelphia

A tragic crash occurred in Philadelphia when a U.S. air ambulance plane, carrying six people including a young girl, plummeted into a residential neighborhood, causing widespread chaos. The Learjet 55, which took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport on Friday evening, was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it lost control shortly after departure.

The medical flight was transporting a child patient, her mother, and four crew members, when it crashed into a Philadelphia community. The explosion from the impact engulfed several homes in a fireball.

The company operating the aircraft, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, released a statement saying, “We cannot confirm any survivors.” At the time of reporting, there was no immediate confirmation of casualties on the ground.

All six individuals aboard the plane were from Mexico. The child had been receiving treatment in Philadelphia for a critical condition and was being transported back home. According to Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold, the flight’s planned route was to stop in Missouri before continuing to Tijuana, Mexico.

The crew consisted of experienced professionals, including four staff members. Gold emphasized that the company places great importance on rigorous training and the maintenance of its aircraft. “It’s a shocking and surprising incident,” Gold said. “We invest in our aircraft because we understand the critical nature of our mission.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the media late Friday, expressing his sorrow over the disaster. “We expect fatalities from this awful aviation accident,” he stated.

The plane, which was registered in Mexico, was operated by Jet Rescue, a company based in Mexico with operations in both countries.

This crash came just days after another devastating aviation incident. On Wednesday, an American Airlines flight with 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair with a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. There were no survivors in that crash.

The Philadelphia tragedy marked Jet Rescue’s second fatal incident in just 15 months. In 2023, five of the company’s crew members lost their lives in a plane crash in central Mexico after the aircraft overran a runway and collided with a hillside.

In Philadelphia, a doorbell camera captured footage of the plane crashing in a streak of white light before exploding on impact, close to a shopping mall and major roadways.

Jim Quinn, who owned the doorbell camera, described the terrifying moment: “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.”

Nearby resident Michael Schiavone, 37, was sitting in his home when he felt a violent shake and heard a loud explosion. “It felt like a mini earthquake. When I checked the security footage, it looked like a missile came down,” he said.