PHILADELPHIA — According to authorities, a tragic car incident turned out to be the seventh casualty in a devastating air ambulance crash on a busy street in Philadelphia, as investigators meticulously examined the wreckage consisting of burned vehicles, damaged houses, and debris to uncover the cause of the plane’s abrupt descent shortly after taking off.
The crash involved a small jet carrying six individuals, including a child who had been receiving prolonged treatment at a hospital. The aircraft went down shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, creating a massive explosion that witnesses described as a fireball, resulting in a chaotic scene on the ground. At least 19 other people were injured in the incident, although most were released from medical care by the following afternoon.
Investigation teams are still working to determine the reason behind the crash. Adam Thiel, the managing director for the city, stated it may take days or longer to accurately assess the number of fatalities and injuries due to the extensive impact area in a densely populated neighborhood. As of Saturday morning, six victims were confirmed to be on the jet, with one additional person in a vehicle. With uncertainty around who might have been on the street at the time of the crash, officials warn that the casualty count could potentially increase.
The scene of the incident spanned approximately four to six city blocks, leading authorities to conduct assessments of the damage by visiting homes in the nearby area. The aircraft crashed shortly after 6 p.m. on a Friday evening, during what is typically a bustling dinner hour. Mayor Cherelle Parker noted that the jet was airborne for merely a short duration before the accident occurred.
Witnesses described hearing a loud boom, with one diner waiter, Selkuc Koc, initially mistaking the sound for thunder. Upon looking outside, he saw smoke and flames resembling a balloon explosion, thinking perhaps a nearby gas station had erupted. One diner patron even sustained injuries from a heavy object that flew through the window during the chaos.
Officials from Temple University Hospital-Jeanes and Jefferson Health confirmed that most of the injured individuals were treated and discharged by midday, although at least three people remained hospitalized. Among the six passengers on the medical transport jet were a child recently discharged from Shriners Children’s Philadelphia hospital after months of treatment, her mother, and four crew members. Hospital representatives noted the child’s case was particularly complicated, as her condition was difficult to address in Mexico.
The identities of the victims have not been officially disclosed by either local authorities or Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company operating the flight. However, XE Médica Ambulancias, a Mexican emergency service, identified one of its doctors, Raúl Meza, as one of the deceased. He served as the chief of neonatology at ISEM Atizapán hospital, located near Mexico City. Relatives of Josué Juárez, the aircraft’s co-pilot, plan to conduct a family memorial and have been avoiding media coverage to escape distressing images of the crash.
Josué Juárez had been a pilot for over a decade, with a passion for flying, salsa dancing, and video games. His family described his love for aviation and mentioned that he had worked for the air ambulance service for more than a year, primarily flying routes between the Caribbean and the United States. Reports suggest that the Learjet 55 was destined for Tijuana, California, with a stop in Missouri.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the Mexico-based company responsible for the flight, has a presence in both Mexico and the United States and emphasized that the crew consisted of experienced professionals who underwent stringent training. This incident marks the second fatal accident in a 15-month span for the company, which faced a previous tragedy in 2023 when five crew members died in a crash in central Mexico.
The recent crash occurred just two days following the deadliest air disaster in U.S. history within a generation, involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., which resulted in no survivors. In Philadelphia, a doorbell camera captured footage of the aircraft’s descent and subsequent explosion near a shopping center and major roadway. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud roar before witnessing the large plume of smoke.
After taking off at 6:06 p.m., the Learjet quickly vanished from radar after ascending to 1,600 feet. An audio recording from LiveATC reveals that air traffic control attempted to communicate with the aircraft about 30 seconds after takeoff, shortly before confirming that they had lost track of it. Residents in nearby areas described hearing a significant explosion that shook their homes.
The investigation will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Officials from the NTSB were on-site shortly after the crash and have continued their inquiries into the events surrounding this tragic incident.
