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A mid-size air ambulance plane carrying a sick child and five others crashed on Friday night shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, plowing into a residential area and setting off at least six house fires.
The crash occurred in the Northeast part of the city around 6:10 p.m, a city statement read. A medical transportation jet carrying a mother, daughter and four crew members were killed. One person who sustained injuries on the ground died.
The Learjet 55 aircraft was operated by Mexico-based air ambulance company Jet Rescue Air Ambulance.
The Mexican government said all those on the plane were Mexican nationals. Nineteen people sustained on-the-ground injuries.
The child was a girl on her way home with a final destination of Tijuana, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance told CNN.
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro told a press conference at the crash scene that “we know there will be loss in this region”.
President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it was “so sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost.”
NTSB speaks on investigating two major incidents
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stressed it is not unusual for the agency to be investigating two major accidents at once. “We are a highly-skilled agency,” she said during a news briefing in Philadelphia Saturday.
The NTSB has 436 employees spanning across all modes of transportation. The agency has two separate teams of investigators probing crashes in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. at the respective scenes.
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 23:30
NTSB says it has located two engines, still looking for cockpit voice recorder
As parts of the aircraft remain scattered across Northeast Philadelphia, NTSB Chairwoman wants individuals to look out for the device.
It could be intact but is likely damaged or fragmented, Homendy said.
The chairwoman is asking anyone who finds the recorder to call witness@ntsb.gov.
The device is helpful to investigators in determining what went wrong.
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 23:03
NTSB holds briefing on crash
Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy says she’s been “moved by the outpouring of support for the NTSB over this past week.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead US investigative authority for transportation disasters.
Homendy said the US Parks Service flew her up by helicopter from Ronald Reagan International Airport to Northeast Philadelphia Airport on Saturday.
The NTSB is also investigating the American Eagle crash that occurred on Wednesday after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with the plane mid-air on its descent. Sixty-seven people died in the incident.
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 22:41
Doctor on board flight identified
Dr Raúl Meza, the head of neonatology for XE Médica Ambulancias, a private emergency services company, was on board the aircraft, the company confirmed Saturday in an X post.
Meza studied medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and pediatrics and neonatology at the National Institute of Pediatrics.
He was a physician assigned to the NICU at the Instituto de Salud del Estado de México in Atizapan, over 2,000 km from where the plane was due to land in Tijuana.
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 20:30
Death toll still unconfirmed – but officials ‘know there will be loss’
An official confirmation of the death toll from Friday’s evening’s crash is not expected until the morning, but there were six people on board the air ambulance that came down in a fiery crash and currently no reports of any survivors.
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late on Friday that officials expected fatalities in the “awful aviation disaster”.
“We know that there will be loss,” he said.
Six people were injured on the ground, but none are in a life-threatening condition.
Namita Singh1 February 2025 19:30
Philadelphia Managing Director Adam Thiel says it could be days or more before total number of casualties is known
There are a lot of unknowns about the number of people on the streets when the incident occurred, Thiel said during a news conference.
“It will likely be days or more until we are able to definitively answer the question about the number of folks who perished in this tragedy,” he said, explaining how he anticipates the number of casualties will change.
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 17:56
Mayor Cherelle L Parker confirms seven dead, 19 injured
Seven people are confirmed dead and 19 injured after a plane crashed in North Philadelphia Friday.
Parker confirmed the development in a social media post. Six of the deceased were on board the aircraft while one individual was in a car.
Several dwellings and vehicles sustained damage in the crash. Local officials are working with state and federal partners to determine the cause of the incident.
“Much more work needs to be done. Please stay home and safe,” Parker said.
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 17:06
Four people spent Friday night at Philadelphia shelter
The Red Cross is currently running an emergency shelter close to the site of the plane crash. It said four people spent the evening there on Friday.
The charity is asking individuals not to bring material donations to the facility.
“We understand people want to help and appreciate the support. Right now, the Red Cross has what it needs to support the community,” the organization said.
“We ask that you not bring material donations such as clothing or food to the shelter. We’re working to identify partners to handle donations.”
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 16:30
Emergency shelter open across the street from site
A shelter has been opened at Samuel Fels High School at 5500 Langdon Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
The facility is being operated with the Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross to assist those who’ve been displaced by the incident.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L Parker said the crash impacted several dwellings in the area.
“Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross disaster workers are there to assist anyone who’s been displaced by this tragedy,” a statement said.
“People have already begun using the shelter – and we encourage anyone who needs this service to avail themselves.”
Michelle Del Rey1 February 2025 15:50