A 10-year-old boy became a real-life superhero, saving his little sister while debris rained down in a terrifying plane crash rocked Philadelphia!
Horror on the streets!
Andre Howard, was in the car with his father and two siblings. They were on a simple doughnut run. Suddenly, chaos struck! A Mexico-bound air ambulance plummeted from the sky.
The crash happened near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Flames erupted. Metal flew everywhere. The impact killed seven people. Many others suffered injuries.
‘Get down!’ – a brother’s heroic instinct
Andre saw danger first! He shouted to his little sister, “Get down!” without hesitation, he shielded her. Then—disaster! A massive piece of metal smashed through the car. It struck Andre’s head!
His father, also named Andre Howard, described the horror. “We thought it was a car crash. But then—fire everywhere! Debris flying! Glass shattering!”
A miracle in motion
A good Samaritan rushed over. He ripped off his shirt. Pressed it against Andre’s head. Blood poured, but help was on the way!
A city cop didn’t wait for an ambulance. He scooped up the boy and raced to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. Doctors acted fast. They fought to save the child’s life.
“They told us he wasn’t supposed to make it,” his father revealed. But Andre defied the odds.
His mother, Lashawn Hamiel, was in shock. Tears streamed down her face. “As a mother, what am I supposed to do?” she asked. “But he’s strong. He’s pushing through. He’s a superhero.”
Andre’s father agreed. “He faced death. And today—he’s here! He stepped up for his sister, just like I taught him.”
Doctors are now monitoring Andre closely. They want to keep him stable before making the next move.
The deadly Learjet 55 crash claimed seven lives:
- Valentina Guzman Murillo, 11
- Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, 31 (her mother)
- Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales
- Co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez
- Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo
- Paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla
- A bystander on the ground
Valentina had just received critical care at Shriners Children’s Hospital. She was flying home to Mexico. She never made it.
Susan Marie Fasino, who helped arrange Valentina’s treatment, was devastated. “She was so frail,” she shared. “Her mother never left her side.”
Shriners staff were heartbroken. They had just held a sendoff for Valentina. Hours later, she was gone.
A city in mourning
The crash scene was massive. It spanned multiple blocks. Homes and businesses were destroyed. Five survivors remain in the hospital.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker expressed sorrow. “Our city mourns this terrible loss,” she said. “Our prayers are with the victims.”
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are digging for answers. They’ve recovered the aircraft’s black box. Now, the world waits for the truth behind this tragedy.
