A tragic crash occurred Friday evening in a Philadelphia neighborhood when a medical transport jet, carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff. The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, exploded into a fireball that engulfed several homes nearby.
The child, who had been treated for a life-threatening condition in Philadelphia, was being transported back to Mexico with her mother, according to Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold. The plane’s final destination was to be Tijuana, after a planned stop in Missouri.
While the company expressed deep sorrow over the incident, they were unable to confirm any survivors. Officials were still working to assess the damage, but no immediate reports of fatalities on the ground were made.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro spoke at a news conference, acknowledging the devastation of the crash. “We know that there will be loss,” he stated, underscoring the tragic nature of the event.
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This crash, occurring less than three days after another major U.S. aviation tragedy, has raised concerns about aviation safety. Just earlier in the week, an American Airlines plane collided midair with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., resulting in no survivors.
Jet Rescue, based in Mexico and operating in both Mexico and the U.S., had previously faced a fatal incident in 2023 when a plane crashed in Mexico, killing five crew members. Despite this, company spokesperson Gold reassured that the fleet is rigorously maintained, with a focus on safety and quality, given the critical nature of their operations.
The plane, which had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 p.m. and had climbed to 1,600 feet, vanished from radar moments later. Witnesses near the scene described the terrifying events, with one doorbell camera capturing the plane streaking through the sky before exploding upon impact near a shopping center.
Michael Schiavone, a nearby resident, described feeling like he had experienced a small earthquake as his house shook from the explosion. He initially thought the area was under attack.
The plane crash occurred near Roosevelt Mall, a bustling shopping area, less than 3 miles from the airport. Videos taken by onlookers showed a chaotic scene filled with debris and thick plumes of black smoke rising from the wreckage.
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, and an investigator had already arrived at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will assist in the investigation as officials work to determine the cause of the crash.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jet Rescue, known for transporting critically ill patients including baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz in 2019, expressed condolences but emphasized that all personnel undergo extensive training to ensure safe operations in these high-stakes medical flights.
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