A tragic plane crash in Philadelphia on Friday evening shook a local neighborhood, leaving six people dead and several homes destroyed in a fiery explosion. The private medical transport jet had just taken off when it crashed less than three miles from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, plunging into a busy intersection and causing widespread devastation.
Details of the Crash: Medical Jet Goes Down Shortly After Takeoff
The medical transport jet, identified as a Learjet 55, crashed shortly after taking off at 6:06 p.m. The plane was en route to Tijuana, Mexico, with a planned stop in Missouri. Tragically, it disappeared from radar after reaching an altitude of 1,600 feet, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
The aircraft carried six people onboard: a young child patient, her mother, and four crew members. All six were from Mexico. The child had received treatment in Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition and was being flown back home when the disaster struck.
Doorbell camera footage captured the terrifying moment the jet fell from the sky like a streak of light before exploding into flames upon impact. Eyewitness Jim Quinn, who owns the doorbell camera, described hearing a loud roar before seeing a massive plume of smoke rise into the air.
Cause and Investigation
The cause of the crash is not yet known, but authorities are working to uncover what went wrong. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the accident. The investigation team is currently gathering evidence, including analyzing wreckage and flight data to understand the possible cause.
Shai Gold, a spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance—the operator of the plane—expressed shock at the incident. “All of the aircraft are maintained, not a penny is spared because we know our mission is so critical,” he told reporters. Gold emphasized that the flight was operated by an experienced crew trained rigorously for such missions.
Impact on the Neighborhood and Witness Accounts
The crash site was located near Roosevelt Mall in the densely populated Rhawnhurst neighborhood, causing severe damage to homes and businesses in the area. A continuous stream of emergency responders, including police and firefighters, swarmed the scene within minutes.
Witness Michael Schiavone, who lives nearby, described hearing a loud bang that shook his house. At first, he thought it was an earthquake or an attack. “There was a large explosion, so I thought we were under attack for a second,” Schiavone said after reviewing footage from his home security camera.
One cellphone video taken by a witness moments after the crash captured a chaotic scene, showing debris scattered across the intersection, glowing flames, and thick black smoke filling the air.
National Reactions and Context
The crash came just two days after another devastating aviation accident in Washington, D.C., where an American Airlines jet collided midair with an Army helicopter, killing all onboard. Friday’s tragedy in Philadelphia added to what has been a dark week in aviation safety.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the crash on his social media platform, calling it “so sad” and expressing condolences for the lives lost.
Jet Rescue’s Background and Global Operations
Jet Rescue, the company operating the ill-fated flight, provides international air ambulance services, transporting patients in critical need. The company gained widespread attention in 2019 when it flew baseball legend David Ortiz to Boston after he was shot in the Dominican Republic. Jet Rescue has also played a major role in airlifting COVID-19 patients during the pandemic.
The plane involved in the crash was registered to a Mexican company operating as Med Jets and was part of Jet Rescue’s fleet of air ambulances.
The tragic crash in Philadelphia has left a neighborhood in mourning and sparked an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident. For now, residents and authorities alike are coping with the devastating loss of life and property. With the NTSB’s investigation underway, more answers are expected in the coming weeks as the nation reflects on the critical importance of aviation safety and emergency response.
