Medical plane carrying pediatric patient crashes in Philadelphia, sets homes ablaze

PHILADELPHIA (NEXSTAR) — A medical transport jet headed for Missouri and carrying a child patient and five others crashed in Northeast Philadelphia Friday night, Pennsylvania’s governor and the company that owns the plane confirmed.

The plane’s owner, Jet Rescue, provides global air ambulance services, confirmed Friday night that six people were on board, including four crew and a pediatric patient and their escort.

On Saturday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that all six people aboard were killed in the crash and at least 19 people on the ground were injured. Parker said that the child patient was being treated at a Shriners Children’s Hospital and was accompanied on the plane by her mother.

Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he’s offering all “Commonwealth resources” as they respond to the crash, which happened at a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping center with dozens of stores and restaurants in the residential neighborhood of Rhawnhurst.

The crash happened just 30 seconds after taking off and reaching 1,500 feet, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, with the plane crashing in a fiery cloud that set several homes in the area aflame. NTSB says it’s still looking for the cockpit voice recorder, which is likely among the various amounts of debris.

Nexstar’s WHTM reports that the crash happened less than 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which primarily serves business jets and charter flights. Philadelphia’s emergency management office said there was a “major incident” at the location of the crash site and that roads are closed in the area.

Flight data showed a small jet taking off from the airport at 6:06 p.m. and disappearing from radar about 30 seconds later after climbing to an altitude of 1,600 feet (487 meters).

A photo posted on the social platform X by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management showed a thick cloud of smoke in the sky near the Roosevelt Mall, where first responders were blocking traffic and onlookers crowded onto a street corner.

The FAA gave the following statement to Nexstar: “A Learjet 55 crashed around 6:30 p.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 31, after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. There were two people on board. The plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.”

Jet Rescue, based in Mexico, flew baseball hall of famer David Ortiz to Boston after he was shot in the Dominican Republic in 2019 and was involved in transporting patients critically ill with COVID-19.

In a statement to Nexstar’s WHTM, State Rep. Jared Solomon, who represent the district where the crash happened, released the following statement: “Northeast Philadelphia is a community of neighbors who care about each other. In a time of profound tragedy, I was inspired to witness hundreds of our first responders sprinting towards danger to ensure the safety of our neighborhood. Northeast Philadelphia stands united in prayer for the families of the victims, and in gratitude for the brave firefighters and police officers who keep us safe.”

The crash comes two days after the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century. An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers. There were no survivors in that crash.

NTSB said Saturday evening that officials are investigating to figure out what went wrong and how to prevent it. The area of the incident is an ongoing investigation site and residents are advised to avoid it for the next few weeks, if possible.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.