A medical transport jet carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members crashed into a residential area of Philadelphia shortly after takeoff on Friday evening. The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, exploded upon impact, engulfing several homes in flames. Officials have not confirmed whether there were any casualties on the ground.
Aircraft Was Transporting Child Patient Home
The flight was carrying a child patient from Mexico who had been receiving treatment for a life-threatening condition in Philadelphia. She was being flown back home with her mother, with the flight’s final destination set for Tijuana, after a planned stop in Missouri.
Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold stated that the aircraft had an experienced crew and underwent rigorous maintenance. “When an incident like this happens, it’s shocking and surprising,” Gold said. “All of the aircraft are maintained, not a penny is spared because we know our mission is so critical.”
Authorities Confirm Fatalities in “Awful Aviation Disaster”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the crash as an “awful aviation disaster” during a press briefing late Friday. “We know that there will be loss,” he said, though officials have not provided further details on fatalities beyond those aboard the aircraft.
The jet disappeared from radar shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 p.m., reaching an altitude of 1,600 feet (487 meters) before crashing less than three miles (five kilometers) from the airport.
Second Fatal Crash for Jet Rescue in 15 Months
This is the second deadly accident involving Jet Rescue Air Ambulance in the past 15 months. In 2023, a plane operated by the company crashed in Morelos, Mexico, after overrunning a runway, killing five crew members.
The Learjet 55 was registered in Mexico and operated by Med Jets, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware.
Witnesses Describe Explosion and Debris
The crash occurred near Roosevelt Mall, a busy commercial area in Rhawnhurst, a densely populated neighborhood of Philadelphia. Video footage from a doorbell camera captured the moment the jet plummeted toward the ground, followed by a massive explosion.
Witness Jim Quinn, whose camera recorded the incident, described hearing a loud roar before seeing a plume of smoke rising into the sky. Another witness, Michael Schiavone, said his house shook from the impact, comparing the explosion to an earthquake.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, with police and fire crews filling nearby business parking lots. A cellphone video taken shortly after the crash showed flames, thick black smoke, and scattered debris, while sirens blared in the background.
Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation. An NTSB investigator arrived on-site Friday night, with more officials expected on Saturday.
The crash comes just days after another fatal air disaster in the United States. On Wednesday, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers collided in midair with an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., killing all onboard.
Jet Rescue is known for its global air ambulance services, previously transporting high-profile patients, including baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz after he was shot in the Dominican Republic in 2019, and assisting in COVID-19 medical evacuations.
Authorities have not released further details on the possible cause of the crash or whether there were survivors among those in the affected homes. The investigation is ongoing.
