Car driver on ground among seven dead after Philadelphia jet crash carrying child patient and mother
A child patient, her mother and one person on the ground were among seven people killed after killed after a plane crashed into a Philadelphia neighbourhood as ITV News' Amy Lewis reports
All six people on board a medical transport jet and one person on the ground were killed after the plane crashed into a Philadelphia neighbourhood shortly after takeoff on Friday night.
The plane, which was carrying a child patient, her mother and four others crashed into a city neighbourhood, exploding in a fireball that engulfed several homes.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operated the Learjet 55, said "we cannot confirm any survivors" as Philadelphia’s Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed the casualties at a press conference Saturday.
One person on the ground in a car was also killed and 19 people were injured. At least six people were taken to hospital following the crash.
It could be days, or more, until authorities are able to confirm the number of dead and injured, said Adam Thiel, the city's managing director.
It is “entirely possible” that there will be changes to the casualty figures, Thiel said. There are “a lot of unknowns” as to who was where on the streets of the neighborhood when the plane crashed.
All six people aboard the jet were from Mexico. In a statement on X, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her sympathy to the six Mexicans on board who died.
She said: "The consular authorities are in permanent contact with the family members; I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support everything that is required.
"My solidarity is with your loved ones and friends."
The child had been treated in Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition and was being transported home, according to Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold.
The flight’s final destination was to have been Tijuana after a stop in Missouri. The patient and her mother were on board along with four crew members.
The plane crashed in a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall in a densely populated area.
Gold said this was a seasoned crew and everyone involved in these flights goes through rigorous training.
“When an incident like this happens, it’s shocking and surprising,” Gold told The Associated Press.
“All of the aircraft are maintained, not a penny is spared because we know our mission is so critical.”
Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro said at a news conference on Friday that officials expected fatalities in the “awful aviation disaster.”
We know that there will be loss,” he added.
The plane was registered in Mexico where Jet Rescue is also based and has operations both there and in the US.
The crash came just two days after the deadliest US air disaster in a generation.
On Wednesday night, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair in Washington DC, with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers.
There were no survivors.
The Philadelphia crash was the second fatal incident in 15 months for Jet Rescue.
In 2023, five crewmembers were killed when their plane overran a runway in the central Mexican state of Morelos and crashed into a hillside.
In Philadelphia, a doorbell camera captured video of the plane plunging in a streak of white and exploding as it hit the ground near a shopping mall and major roadway.
“All we heard was a loud roar and didn’t know where it was coming from. We just turned around and saw the big plume,” said Jim Quinn, the owner of the doorbell camera.
The crash happened less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which primarily serves business jets and charter flights.
The Learjet 55 quickly disappeared from radar after taking off from the airport at 6:06 pm and climbing to an altitude of 1,600 feet (487 meters).
It was registered to a company operating as Med Jets, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, President Donald Trump said: “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia.”
“More innocent souls lost,” he added. “Our people are totally engaged.”
The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. The NTSB said an investigator arrived and more officials would be there Saturday.
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