PHILADELPHIA — Authorities reported on Saturday that a car occupant has become the seventh fatality resulting from a devastating crash involving an air ambulance that plummeted onto a busy street in Philadelphia. Amidst the wreckage, investigators are meticulously examining burned vehicles, damaged homes, and charred remains to understand the cause of the aircraft’s abrupt descent shortly after taking off.
The Learjet 55 was transporting six individuals from Mexico, which included a child who had just completed an extensive treatment at a hospital. The aircraft went down moments after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, leading witnesses to describe a massive fireball that shook nearby houses and created a chaotic scene on the street.
As of now, officials have not determined the cause of the crash, and Adam Thiel, the city’s managing director, indicated that it might take days, or possibly longer, to fully ascertain the number of victims and injuries, given the wide-reaching impact area within a densely populated neighborhood.
Following its ascent to approximately 1,500 feet, the plane went into a rapid decline, crashing less than a minute post-takeoff. The National Transportation Safety Board’s chair, Jennifer Homendy, classified it as a “high-impact crash” leading to significant fragmentation of the aircraft.
At the latest count, there are seven confirmed deaths—six from the jet and one from a vehicle—and 19 individuals reported injured, most of whom have been treated and discharged from hospitals. Thiel noted that due to numerous unknowns about the circumstances on the streets during the crash, the casualty numbers could potentially rise.
The crash site spans at least four to six blocks, and authorities are diligently assessing the damages, conducting evaluations house by house. Homendy mentioned that her team is in the process of collecting wreckage from the jet, a task that may span several days or weeks before the debris is transferred to a secure location for thorough examination.
Air traffic controllers did not report any irregularities before the crash, and the search for the cockpit voice recorder is ongoing. According to Homendy, it likely suffered damage due to the impact but their experts have considerable skill in repairing such devices.
The crash occurred just after 6 p.m. during a bustling Friday evening, merely a few miles away from the airport. Witness Selkuc Koc, a waiter at a nearby diner, initially mistook the loud noise for thunder but quickly realized it was something far more disastrous as he observed the rising smoke and flames. One patron in the diner sustained injuries from a small metal object that was projected through a window.
Among the six passengers aboard the medical transport were a child and her mother, alongside four crew members. A representative from the hospital confirmed that the girl had spent several months receiving critical treatment for a condition that is challenging to address in Mexico, stating that her experience was filled with hope and gratitude for the medical staff who supported her through her journey.
All six victims on the Learjet hailed from Mexico, prompting an outpouring of condolences from President Claudia Sheinbaum, who expressed her sympathies online while assuring that consular authorities are in ongoing communication with the victims’ families for any necessary support.
The intended destination for the flight was Tijuana, following a stop in Missouri. While neither the city officials nor the aircraft owner have released the identities of the deceased, a Mexican emergency service identified one of its doctors, Raúl Meza, among the victims. Furthermore, family members confirmed that Josué Juárez was the co-pilot of the aircraft, who had over a decade of flying experience and was loved for his vibrant personality and dedication to his profession.
This tragic incident follows closely behind another significant air disaster in Washington, D.C., just two days prior, marking a somber note for aviation safety experts. Despite this, Homendy reassured that the NTSB, an experienced agency, is fully capable of managing multiple investigations concurrently.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, operating the Learjet 55 in question, is based in Mexico and also has operations in Miami. A spokesperson emphasized that the crew on board was seasoned and underwent extensive training. This incident represents the second deadly occurrence involving Jet Rescue within a span of 15 months.
Upon takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which primarily accommodates charter flights, air traffic control briefly lost contact with the Learjet. Audio recordings captured controllers’ confusion as they tried to ascertain the situation leading to the eventual announcement that the field would be closed.
Residents nearby described the chaos, with one individual recalling a thunderous explosion that was initially mistaken as an attack. Another captured footage of the tragic event as the plane descended and erupted upon impact, underscoring the alarming magnitude of the accident.
