Medical Jet Crash Kills 7 in Philadelphia Neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A medical jet transporting a pediatric patient, her mother, and four crew members crashed into a residential neighborhood near Roosevelt Mall on Friday evening, killing all six on board and one person on the ground. The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, had just departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport en route to Springfield, Missouri, when it plummeted moments after takeoff.

The crash occurred at approximately 6:07 p.m., causing a massive explosion that ignited several homes and scattered debris across four to five blocks. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed the fatalities during a press conference on Saturday, describing the incident as a tragedy. “This was a medical transport plane that took off from our nearby Northeast Philadelphia Airport, and it was only afloat for a very short period of time before something went terribly wrong,” Parker said.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the jet had departed from Florida earlier in the day, arriving in Philadelphia around 2:15 p.m. After a brief stop, it took off at 6:06 p.m. GPS data revealed the aircraft climbed to about 1,500 feet before making slight turns and then descending steeply. The entire flight lasted less than a minute.

NTSB officials said the plane is “highly fragmented,” and the debris field is extensive. Investigators are working to recover the flight data recorder, which may be damaged but could provide critical insights into the cause of the crash. “Our mission is to uncover how and why this crash happened and to prevent it from happening again,” an NTSB spokesperson said.

The crash also caused power outages for more than 200 residents and prompted road closures and SEPTA detours. Adam Thiel, managing director of the City of Philadelphia, said teams are inspecting homes in the area for damage. “We have teams going literally house by house, door to door,” Thiel said.

The president of Mexico confirmed that all six passengers were Mexican citizens, including the pediatric patient who had recently completed treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital. Mel Bower, a spokesperson for the hospital, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “It’s extremely hard and extremely difficult. Those involved directly in her care were very aware that she was going to be traveling home,” Bower said. He added that the hospital community is deeply affected, emphasizing that patients are like family.

Officials are urging residents to avoid the crash site and report any debris to the NTSB. The investigation is expected to take several days or weeks as authorities piece together the events leading to the crash.