Feb. 1—A medical transport jet with six people on board plummeted to the ground near Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia Friday night, bursting into flames that spread to homes and cars in a heavily trafficked area and killing everyone on board the plane and at least one person on the ground.
The Learjet 55 went down shortly after 6 p.m. near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard just after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, creating a chaotic and horrific scene of death and destruction.
The person on the ground who was killed was in a car, according to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. As of Saturday morning, a minimum of 19 people on the ground had been reported injured, she said.
A shelter has been established for those who could not get to their homes or whose homes were damaged in the crash and resulting fire.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were at the scene Saturday and said investigators are still searching for the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, or “black box.”
What happened?
A private medical transport jet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport just after 6 p.m. and within a minute appeared to have nosedived into a commercial and residential area 3.5 miles away near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Witnesses captured video and pictures of a giant fireball and dark black smoke rising from the crash site.
Who owned the plane and where was it going?
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a medical flight company, owns the Learjet 55. The aircraft was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, with Tijuana, Mexico, its ultimate destination.
Who was on the plane?
The company said a pilot, copilot, flight physician and paramedic along with a pediatric patient and their escort were on the plane. The patient had been treated at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was returning home with her mother on a “contracted air ambulance,” said a hospital spokesperson, describing the Shriners community as “heartbroken.”
Who are the other victims from the plane?
A Mexican emergency service has identified one of its doctors as having been on board the medical jet that crashed.
“Dr. Raúl Meza was part of crew in the air ambulance XA-UCI belonging to another company where [he] also provides his professional services,” XE Médica Ambulancias wrote on X, identifying Meza as their chief of neonatology.
No other victims have been identified.
How many were killed?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed six of the country’s nationals had died in the jet crash. In a post on X, Sheinbaum said the Mexican consulate was in continued contact with families of the deceased.
“My solidarity with their loved ones and friends,” she wrote.
City officials confirmed that those killed included four crew members and a mother and her daughter.
How many were injured?
Mayor Parker said in a news conference Saturday that at least 19 people were known to have been injured. But the extent of those injuries and how many may have received medical treatment was unclear, she said.
Of the injured, Temple medical facilities treated seven people.
Six people were brought to Temple University Hospital’s Jeanes Campus in the Northeast Friday night for treatment, according to a spokesperson. As of Saturday morning, all six who of those had been treated and released, a Temple Health spokesperson said.
One patient was still being treated Saturday at Temple University Hospital’s Main Campus and is in fair condition, the spokesperson said.
And Jefferson Health reported that it provided care for 15 individuals — 12 have since been discharged; two have been admitted for further care and one patient was transferred to another hospital.
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children treated one child, a spokesperson said.
That brings the possible total injured to 23.
How big is the debris field?
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board said the debris field is four to five blocks and “is very dangerous.”
Has the plane’s so-called black box been found?
“We are still looking for the cockpit voice recorder,” NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said during a news conference Saturday evening. “It could be intact, but is likely very damaged. It could be fragmented.”
Homendy said the recorder is a key piece of information, but not the only piece and that the investigation will go on with or without it. It is typically orange, “but it might not be orange. It might be in pieces. If you see any types of debris, please email us [at [email protected]], she said.
How long will cleanup of the area take?
Over the next several “days to weeks,” Homendy said, debris will be collected and transported to a secure location. “Right now our focus is on collecting the perishable evidence,” she said.
What did air traffic controllers at Northeast Philadelphia Airport say?
“Medievac Medservice 056 Northeast Tower, are you on frequency?” an air traffic controller asked after the pilots of the jet did not respond, according to an audio recording. After a few seconds of radio silence, a pilot in another aircraft asked about the situation.
“We have a lost aircraft. We’re not exactly sure what happened, so we’re trying to figure it out,” the air traffic controller said moments later. “For now, the field is going to be closed. So no inbounds or outbounds.”
What did witnesses see?
Rachel Handis heard the boom, then her Northeast Philadelphia rowhouse shook as if an earthquake was happening.
“I thought it was gunshots,” said the 34-year-old. “I was so scared.”
As other neighbors ran toward the crash site on Friday night, Handis said her instinct was to stay inside and hide.
Huddled with her Dalmatian, Pongo, she called her parents — who live down the street — to make sure they were OK, she said, then downloaded the Citizen app to learn more about what was happening just a mile away.
Handis watched the live-streamed videos in horror and disbelief that such a tragedy could happen in the tight-knit neighborhood she has called home her whole life.
“I’m still shaken,” she said.
Elsewhere in the neighborhood, Pedro Evangelista couldn’t make sense of what he was seeing through his car’s front windshield.
An object was hurtling through the sky, turning it a horrifying red color. Then, he heard a loud boom.
“I thought there was a war starting,” said Evangelista, a 33-year-old Amazon delivery driver. He had been running a routine errand, driving to the AutoZone a couple of minutes from his home to get a new radiator.
Evangelista saw flames, pulled his gold Toyota Corolla to the side of the road, and started running toward the wreckage.
“I was looking at somebody that was on fire. He was running trying to get help,” Evangelista said. “He didn’t say anything.”
“My living room lit up, it was like a big orange ball and then a boom,” said Robert Fosbennet, 62.
Residents said the sight was paired with an unfamiliar noise.
“I heard what was like a motor and then there was a sonic boom,” said Sue Levy, 69, who lives a block from Fosbennet.
What roads in the crash area are closed?
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management has reported the following road closures:
1.
Cottman Avenue between Bustleton and Brous Avenues
2.
Roosevelt Boulevard outer lanes from Rhawn Street to Tyson Avenue
3.
Saint Vincent Street between Bustleton and Castor Avenues
What is the status of Roosevelt Mall?
Kristen Moore, a spokesperson for the Roosevelt Mall, which is owned by Brixmor Property Group, said the mall remains closed at the request of authorities. There were no injuries on the mall’s property, Moore said.
How many homes caught fire?
Firefighters battled blazes in six homes on the 7200 block of Calvert Street as a result of the plane crash, according to Mike Bresnan, president of the International Brotherhood of Fire Fighters Local 22, the union that represents firefighters and paramedics. He said firefighters also battled between six and eight car fires.
Is there an emergency shelter for anyone who is displaced by the crash and fire?
Shelter is being provided at Samuel Fels High School at 5500 Langdon St.
What was the impact on utilities and SEPTA?
SEPTA has detoured seven routes: the Boulevard Direct Bus, and Routes 1, 14, 20, 50, 70 and 77.
SEPTA is advising riders to check real-time bus alerts online, on the SEPTA app, or through customer service at (215) 580-7800.
PECO said that 250 electric customers were “deenergized” Friday night in the wake of the crash, but that number was down to 71 as of Saturday afternoon. Those without power were a mix of residences and businesses. Those impacted were clustered around Calvert Street, Rupert Street and Cottman Avenue.
PGW said that none of its gas infrastructure was impacted, and no readings had been detected for escaped gas. However, five homes had their gas turned off at the request of the city Fire Department. PGW said that anyone who smells gas should call 215-235-1212.
How can the public help with the investigation?
The Philadelphia Police Department is asking for videos from Friday night’s plane crash.
“As you know, the PPD, along with our local, state, and federal partners are working tirelessly to gather all evidence pertaining to the plane crash,” officials said in a statement Saturday afternoon. “We are kindly asking that any social media posts or videos that you have obtained of this crash be forwarded.”
Contributors can send their videos or videos they see on social media to [email protected].
What did Mayor Cherelle L. Parker say?
Parker Friday night asked for the city’s prayers, and called the situation “all hands on deck.” She urged people to stay away from the scene.
“We will find a cause for this tragedy,” she said at a news briefing late Saturday morning.
What other elected officials said
“Northeast Philadelphia is a community of neighbors who care about each other,” said State Rep. Jared Solomon. “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. Northeast Philadelphia stands united in prayer for the families of the victims, and in gratitude for the brave firefighters and police officers who keep us safe.”
Staff writers Ximena Conde, Erin McCarthy, Rob Tornoe, Fallon Ruth, Michelle Myers, and Ellie Rushing contributed to this article.
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