A tragedy unfolded in Philadelphia on Friday night. A small medevac jet, carrying six people, including a young patient and her mother, crashed in a fiery explosion near Roosevelt Mall. The sky lit up as flames engulfed the area. Multiple casualties have been reported.
The Learjet 55 had just taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. It was heading to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. But just a minute after takeoff, disaster struck. Flight data shows the plane reached 1,625 feet before plunging straight down.
Devastation on the ground
The crash site was a nightmare. Homes and cars caught fire instantly. The explosion rocked the neighborhood near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. Residents were in shock. “It was just horrific,” one eyewitness told WPVI. Another described the impact as “earthquake-like.”
A driver passing by saw the jet slam into a building. “The whole sky lit up,” he said. “It was terrible. I had to pull over.”
Video footage from Fox29 captured the horrifying moment. A massive fireball erupted as the plane nose-dived. Smoke billowed across the area. Debris rained down. A chunk of metal even crashed through a diner’s window, injuring a customer.
Emergency response
First responders rushed to the scene. At least six people, not on the plane, were hospitalized. Three have since been released, while three remain in stable condition. Officials have yet to confirm the number of fatalities.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker urged prayers for those affected. “We don’t yet know the full toll,” she said.
City Councilman Mike Driscoll posted about “mass casualties” on X. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called it an “awful aviation disaster.”
What went wrong?
The cause of the crash remains a mystery. Air traffic control reported a “lost aircraft” just before impact. “We’re still trying to figure it out,” one controller said in recorded audio. The field was immediately closed to incoming and outgoing flights.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation. Experts will examine flight data, wreckage, and any possible mechanical failures.
A heartbreaking journey cut short
The young patient had just undergone life-saving treatment. She was heading home to Mexico with her mother. Also on board: a doctor, a paramedic, and the aircraft’s two pilots. Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which owned the plane, confirmed the tragic mission.
Political reactions and tributes
Former President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social. “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia. More innocent souls lost. First responders are doing a great job. More to follow. God bless you all.”
The crash came just days after another aviation disaster. A military helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines jet over Washington, DC, killing 67 people.
Philadelphia mourns as investigators search for answers. The city now grapples with yet another devastating tragedy in the skies.
