A devastating crash in Philadelphia on Friday evening has left seven people dead, including a mother and her child, and has resulted in at least 19 injuries. The Learjet 55, which was on a medical transport mission, crashed just one minute after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The jet was bound for Tijuana, Mexico, with a stopover in Missouri. Tragically, all six people on board, including a young girl and her mother, along with two pilots, a doctor, and a paramedic, were Mexican nationals and lost their lives.
The flight was carrying a young patient who had just completed medical treatment for a life-threatening illness at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Earlier that day, the hospital had held a small celebration for the girl, marking her recovery. Hospital spokesman Mel Bower expressed deep sorrow over the tragic news, revealing that the staff who had cared for the girl were deeply impacted by the accident.
The crash occurred shortly after the jet took off at around 6:07 PM local time (23:07 GMT). According to flight logs, the plane reached an altitude of 1,500 feet before veering slightly right and then left, before beginning a steep descent. NTSB officials confirmed the jet had been airborne for only a minute before it plummeted, igniting a huge fireball as it crashed into several buildings in the area, resulting in both fatalities and injuries on the ground.
While Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed the deaths of all six people on board, at least one person on the ground also perished in the disaster. The total number of injuries is still being assessed, with initial reports indicating 19 individuals were hurt, though this figure could change as investigations continue. The NTSB is working to understand the circumstances surrounding the crash, with NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy noting that there were no distress signals or communication issues reported from the flight crew prior to the accident.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, and authorities have stated that it could take several days before a full assessment of the crash site and the identities of those affected can be made. With the situation still evolving, officials continue to investigate the cause of this tragic incident, which has left a community mourning the loss of lives so suddenly and tragically.
