PHILADELPHIA — A remarkable recovery is underway for a 10-year-old boy who courageously shielded his younger sister from debris after a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia last week, according to his family.

Trey Howard’s first words to his father, Andre Howard Jr., upon waking from emergency brain surgery were, “Daddy, did I save my sister?” This came after the family had gone out for donuts, just moments before the tragic incident occurred on Friday night.

The crash was described as sounding like a barrage of missiles striking vehicles, with Andre recalling that he swiftly reversed the car as Trey protected his sister. As he yelled for her to “Get down!”, Trey instinctively covered her, leading to chaos with glass shattering around them.

“I turned around and saw a piece of metal protruding from my son’s head,” Andre Howard explained. In a desperate attempt to control the bleeding, he used his socks while another bystander provided a shirt. A nearby police officer quickly transported them to the hospital. Initially, doctors cautioned the family that Trey may not survive his injuries, but fortunately, he has shown positive signs of recovery each day.

After his surgery, the first thing Trey sought to confirm was the safety of his sister, reassured by his father that he hadn’t missed the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The plane crash claimed the lives of all six individuals aboard the Learjet 55 air ambulance, including a girl who was receiving critical care at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Additionally, a 37-year-old man named Steven Dreuitt, who was in a vehicle nearby, lost his life in the incident. Reports indicate that 24 others on the ground also suffered injuries. The city’s Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed Dreuitt’s identity.

Authorities have noted that the casualty figures might fluctuate as their investigation continues.