Mother and child among six killed in Philadelphia medical jet crash
A small medical transport plane crashed into several buildings in north-east Philadelphia on Friday evening, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board and injuries to individuals on the ground. The plane, carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members, had been on a medical transport mission.
According to flight logs, the plane was airborne for only a minute before the crash, as stated by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. Videos of the incident circulating online show the plane descending rapidly and causing a massive fireball upon impact.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico confirmed that all six individuals aboard the plane were Mexican. The aircraft was en route to Springfield, Missouri.
Parker stated that many people on the ground—located in parking lots, on streets, in cars, and in homes nearby—sustained injuries, although the exact number of injured individuals has not been confirmed. A spokesperson from Temple University Hospital-Jeanes in Philadelphia reported that they treated six people who were hurt on the ground during the crash. Three of them were treated and released, but the condition of the remaining three is still unknown.
A plane departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at around 18:07 local time, but crashed less than four miles away just moments later, according to CBS, the BBC's US partner. Emergency calls began at approximately 18:12.
State Representative Jared Solomon of Northeast Philadelphia expressed his admiration for the first responders, saying, "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."
Witnesses reported that shrapnel from the crash damaged nearby cars and sent burning debris into the streets. Photos of the scene showed mangled, burning vehicles. The crash occurred just blocks from Roosevelt Mall, a three-story shopping center in a densely populated part of Philadelphia. The area, filled with terraced homes and shops, is also close to Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Fire officials confirmed that multiple homes caught fire in the aftermath. One witness, driving in the area, described hearing a whirring noise followed by a loud explosion. "Everyone just started screaming," he recalled. Another witness said the explosion "lit up the whole sky," adding, "I just saw a plane basically hit the building and it exploded. The sky lit up, and I pulled over. It was just really bad around here."
Ryan Tian, 23, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he was having dinner when he saw a "massive fireball" turn the sky orange, adding, "I thought we were getting attacked by something."
The girl from Tijuana, Mexico, had recently received treatment at Shriners Children's Philadelphia, according to hospital spokesperson Mel Bower, as reported by CBS. Bower shared that her treatment had been completed, and she was heading home after a send-off at the hospital earlier on Friday. He also mentioned that two doctors aboard the plane were from Jet Air Rescue Air Ambulance.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry confirmed that officials from the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia are in contact with the families of those aboard the flight.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stated that the city does not yet know the number of fatalities, but is asking for prayers for all those affected. She also urged residents to call 911 and avoid touching any debris if found.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the incident as an "awful aviation disaster" during a news conference held at the crash site.
Details about the crash indicate that the flight, operated by Med Jets, had arrived in Philadelphia from Florida less than four hours before the crash, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking site.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a statement, saying his administration was "totally engaged" in the response. "So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost," he added.
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