Day: February 1, 2025

A medical transport jet carrying a child patient, her mother and four others slammed into a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, creating a massive explosion that caused fires and damage throughout the area.

The plane crashed 30 seconds after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia airport, which primarily serves business jets and charter flights. 

While officials have not yet released the identities of the victims of the crash, they did reveal more details about who they were and why they were on the aircraft. 

The plane was headed to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Missouri. From there it would have traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, for its final destination. 

Shai Gold, a spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance – the plane’s operator – told NBC10 the six people on board included a girl, her mother, a pilot, copilot, doctor and paramedic. 

The child who was on board had received treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition, Gold said. 

“All I can say is, the patient was sponsored by a third-partner charity to undergo life-saving treatment in the U.S.,” Gold said. “She did her course of care. She was going home. She fought quite a lot to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy on the way home.”

NBC10’s Claudia Vargas spoke with Jet Rescue Air Ambulance about the small plane that crashed in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday. 

Shriners spokesperson Mel Bower told NBC10 the girl had just been released from the hospital on Friday. 

“I know that the team there in Philadelphia today had a sendoff for her,” he said. “It’s always a meaningful but yet emotional time for us. It’s really just been compounded by the tragic ending.” 

Due to privacy laws, neither Gold nor Bower could reveal the child’s identity. Bower spoke about the impact the crash has had on the hospital’s staff, however. 

“It’s devastating news. All of our patients are like family to us. It’s not just about the care that they received. It is the whole experience of working with them and their families,” he said. “The care that they receive is much more than just clinical. It is very devastating to us. All of our patients are very dear to us and to have such a tragedy happen, it’s just so hard for all of us. Every child deserves to live their best life and that’s our goal. And to see one end so tragically is just heartbreaking.”

In addition to the six people on board the jet, six others who were on the ground were injured during the crash. They were all taken to Temple University Hospital’s Jeanes Campus. Three of those victims were treated and released while three others remain in the hospital, a source told NBC10. Officials have not yet revealed their conditions.

The victims include an 11-year-old boy who suffered head injuries, a 31-year-old man who suffered head injuries and a 30-year-old woman who suffered facial injuries, according to the source.

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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The crash and resulting explosion of a medical transport jet in Northeast Philadelphia left a massive impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and the scope of the devastation started to become more clear on Saturday.

All six people on board the plane are dead and an unknown number of people on the ground were injured after Friday’s crash.

A large fire burned in the wake of the crash, prompting a significant response. Vehicles, homes and even people in the area could be seen on fire.

Action News is getting a new look Saturday morning at the destruction that spans several blocks. A crater can be seen in the roadway where the medical jet made impact.

Chopper 6 was overhead, where charred vehicles and burned buildings could be seen as federal investigators arrived to examine the scene.

Video of the crash quickly began circulating on social media, many showing graphic images from the scene.

Debris from the crash is being found up to a quarter mile away from the impact site.

New video even shows one man sitting inside a diner being struck by debris.

Mayor Cherelle Parker is urging residents to stay away from the scene and to call 911 if they find any debris.

“We’re just asking for prayers,” she told reporters.

The plane was carrying a child, her mother and four other people, went down near the Roosevelt Mall around 6:10 p.m.

The Learjet 55 crashed near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, according to authorities. The flight was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri with a final destination in Mexico when it went down.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, confirmed Saturday that all six on board the plane were killed.

“I regret the death of six Mexicans in the plane crash in Philadelphia, United States. The consular authorities are in permanent contact with the families; I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support them in whatever way is required. My solidarity with their loved ones and friends,” she said in a post on X.

Shriners Children’s Hospital confirmed to Action News that the child on board had received care from the hospital and was being taken back to her home country of Mexico, along with her mother, when the crash happened.

A shelter is available for residents at Samuel Fels High School located on the 5500 block of Langdon Street, the mayor said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.

An NTSB investigator arrived at the scene Friday night with additional team members expected to arrive Saturday.

Speaking at a follow-up press briefing Friday night, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said dozens of state troopers and other state personnel were on hand to offer help and praised local responders and community members.

“We saw neighbor helping neighbor. We saw Pennsylvanians looking out for one another,” he said.

Moment of impact: Plane crash caught on multiple videos in Northeast Philadelphia

In a statement posted to social media platform Truth Social, President Donald Trump said: “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all.”

There was a temporary ground stop after the crash but that has since been lifted. However, Atlantic Aviation is closed.

The Philadelphia plane crash comes just days after 67 people died after an American Airlines plane and Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C. The DC plane crash marks the first major commercial crash in the U.S. in more than 15 years.