In Northeast Philadelphia, a medical transport Learjet 55 crashed soon after takeoff, setting nearby homes on fire and creating a fireball.
Two passengers were involved in the Philadelphia plane crash, which happened close to Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The crash was confirmed by the company of Jet Rescue Air Ambulance in a release.
Approximately 30 seconds after taking off, a medical transport Learjet 55 carrying six passengers crashed in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday, causing a firestorm to erupt and burning down surrounding homes.
There were five people on the plane, including a pediatric patient. According to AFP, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has promised to use all available state resources to support the response.
Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which mainly handles corporate jets and charter flights, was less than three miles away from the incident. According to FlightAware’s flight tracking data, the aircraft was registered to a firm called Med Jets and was on its way to Springfield, Missouri.
The flight data reveals that the aircraft took off at 6:06 p.m. (local time) and vanished from radar approximately 30 seconds after ascending to a height of 1,600 feet (487 meters). In the residential Rhawnhurst district, it crashed at a busy junction close to Roosevelt Mall, a shopping center.
Video captures Learjet 55 aircraft plunging to the ground like a rocket
Traffic jams with orange flames, billowing black smoke, and debris all over the intersection were seen on witness footage.
According to news agency AFP, first responders swiftly cordoned off the area and restricted the roadways to the public. The disaster occurred a few days after a fatal airborne collision that claimed 67 lives in Washington, DC.
Aviation safety received more national attention as a result of this catastrophe, which was the deadliest US air disaster in almost 25 years. The firm that owns the aircraft, Jet Rescue, offers air ambulance services all over the world.
After a shooting in the Dominican Republic in 2019, it was used to transfer baseball star David Ortiz to Boston. Leading the crash inquiry will be the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will collect data on the event.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that the collision happened on Friday night close to Roosevelt Mall. Days had passed since a passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk chopper crashed in midair near Washington airport, killing 67 people.
“The Learjet 55 aircraft crashed “after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport,” according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft was en route to Missouri’s Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the crash as well, stating that “there were reportedly 6 people on board” and that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will work together to examine the event.
President Donald Trump stated in a post on Truth Social:
“So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls were lost. Our people are totally engaged. First responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God bless you all.”
Exclusive video of the jet crashing like a rocket and bursting as it impacted the ground close to a shopping center and a major road was taken by a doorbell camera in Philadelphia.
“We didn’t know where the tremendous roar was coming from, but that’s all we heard”. Jim Quinn, who owns the doorbell camera, stated, “We just turned around and saw the big plume.”