All the six people including a child on board a medical transport jet were killed after it crashed in Philadelphia on Friday, confirmed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Six people on board a medical transport jet that crashed in Phil𓃲ade♑lphia were killed. That is according to .
The child was receiving treatment at a hospital in Philadelph🦂ia and travelling with her mother along 🐻with four others in the jet.
According to Associated Press, at least six people on the ground were injured in the crash on Fridಌay.
The🅰 crash happened less than 5 kilometres from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which p🌠rimarily serves business jets and charter flights. A continuous stream of police vehicles and fire trucks initially responded at the crash site, taking over business parking lots.
Where Was The Plane Going? Who Were Onboard?
The medical transport jet was transporting a child who had just completed treatment for a life-threatening condition at S🐻hriners Children's Hospital, her mother and four others.
It crashed into a Philadelphia neighbourhood shortly after takeoff Friday evening, exploding in a fireba𝔍ཧll that engulfed several homes.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance operated the Learjet 55. Everyon🦹e aboard the flight was from Mexico.
The child was being transported home, according to Jet Rescu💎e spokesperson Shai Gold. The flight's 🔴final destination was Tijuana after a stop in Missouri.
The patient and her mother were on board along with four crew members. Gold said this was a seasoned crew and everyone involved in these flights goes tಞhrough rigorous training.
“When an ꦫincident like this happens, it's shocking and surprising,” Gold told The Associated Press. “All of the aircraft are maintained, not a penny is spared because we know our mission is so ꧋critical.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late Friday that oꦐff♏icials expected fatalities in the “awful aviation disaster.”
A spokesperson for Temple University Hospital-Jeanes, Jennifer Reardo♈n, said they had treated six people with injuries from the crash. Three of those people had since been released and the others were in fair condition. She wasn't able to provide information about th🌠eir injuries or where the people were when they sustained them.
The plane was registered in Mexico. Jet Rescue is based in Mexico and has operatio꧃ns bot🌄h there and in the US.
Philadelphia Crash Caught On Cam
In Philadelphia, a doorbell camera captured video of the plane plungi🧸ng in a streak of white and exploding as it hit the ground near a shopping mall and major roadway.
“All we heard was a loud roar and didn't know where it was coming from. We just tu🔯rned around and saw the big plume,” said Jim Quinn, the owner of the doorbell camera.
The Learjet 55 quickly disappeared from radar after taking off from t💞he airport at 6:06 p.m. and climbing to an altitude of 1,600 feet (487 meters). It was rꦿegistered to a company operating as Med Jets, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
Shortly after 6 p.m., aud꧑io recorded by LiveATC captured an air traffic controller telling “Medevac Medservice 056” to turn right when departing. About 30 seconds later it repeats the request before asking, “You on frequency?” Minutes later, t💫he controller says, “We have a lost aircraft. We're not exactly sure what happened, so we're trying to figure it out. For now the field is going to be closed.”
The plane crashed in a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping centre in the densely populated neiꦰghbourhood of Rhawnhurst.
One cellphone video taken by a witness moments after the crash showed a chaotic scene with debris scatt♓ered across the intersection. A wall of orange glowed just beyond as a plume of black smoke rose into the sky and sirens blared.
The FAA said th﷽e National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. The NTSB said an investigator arrived Friday and more officials would beꦆ there Saturday.
Trump, Mexican President Express Condolences
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, President Donald Trump said: “So sad to sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚee the plane go down in Philadelphia.”
“More innocent souls lost,” he added. “Ou🐠r people are totally engaged.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaꦉum expressed condolences Saturday morning in a statement o🙈n the social media platform X.
“I mourn the passing of six Mexicans in the aviation accident in Philadelphia, United States. 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,” she said in a statement written in Spanish.
The crash came just two days after♐ the deadliest US air disaster in a generation𒀰. On Wednesday night, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair in Washington, DC, with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers. There were no survivors.
The Philadelphia crash was the second fatal incident in 15 months for Jet Rescue. In 2023 five crewmembers were killed when the▨ir plane overran a runwayඣ in the central Mexican state of Morelos and crashed into a hillside.
