Seven Dead, 19 Injured After Medical Transport Plane Crashes in Philadelphia
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A medical transport plane crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing seven people and injuring 19. The plane, which was carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members from Mexico, crashed 30 seconds after taking off, setting several homes on fire. This is the second fatal crash in 15 months for Jet Rescue, the company operating the plane.
Philadelphia Medical Transport Plane Crash Kills Seven, Injures Nineteen
A medical transport plane tragically crashed into a residential neighborhood in north-east Philadelphia last Friday, resulting in seven fatalities and nineteen injuries. All six onboard, including a child patient from Mexico, her mother, and four crew members, died in the crash. A ground casualty was also reported, confirmed Philadelphia mayor, Cherelle Parker.
The plane erupted into a fireball just 30 seconds post-takeoff, setting multiple homes aflame. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, expressed her condolences in a post on X. “Consular authorities are providing constant support to the families,” she clarified.
The jet, registered in Mexico and on a medical assignment, was carrying the young patient and her mother who had just completed treatment at the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. “Due to patient privacy concerns, we won’t be sharing more information at this time,” said Shriners spokesperson, Mel Bower.
Second Fatal Crash for Jet Rescue in 15 Months
This marks the second fatal crash for Jet Rescue in just over a year. In 2023, five crew members were tragically killed when their plane overshot a runway in Mexico’s Morelos state. This recent crash occurred a short distance from Northeast Philadelphia airport and followed a military helicopter colliding with a commercial airliner near Reagan Washington National airport, which killed all 67 passengers and crew.
Photos from the crash site revealed burning houses as a result of the incident. Fire officials confirmed multiple structures caught fire in the aftermath around 6pm ET, near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. The incident was described as having caused extensive damage over a large area, according to Adam Thiel, Philadelphia’s managing director.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crashed plane was a Learjet 55, revising their initial report of two onboard to the confirmed six. The FAA, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, will investigate the crash. They noted the plane’s intended destination was Springfield-Branson National airport in Missouri.
Details and Reactions to the Northeast Philadelphia Plane Crash
Flight data showed the jet disappearing from radar approximately 30 seconds after taking off, having reached an altitude of 1,600 ft. The medical transport jet, registered to Med Jets, subsequently crashed into a densely populated part of the city, causing yet to be confirmed casualties on the ground.
Donald Trump, the US President, responded to the incident on social media, expressing sadness at the loss of innocent lives and praising first responders for their efforts. Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, offered thoughts and prayers for the grieving at a press conference held at the crash site.
Chaos ensued at the crash site as the plane plunged into an intersection near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping center, causing debris scattering and a large explosion. Jet Rescue, the licensed and insured company operating the flight, boasts over 20 years of critical care air ambulance services experience. This crash comes just two days after the US’s deadliest air disaster in a generation, a midair collision in Washington DC.
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