A tragic accident occurred on Friday evening in Northeast Philadelphia when a Learjet 55, a small medical evacuation aircraft, crashed shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. All six people on board, including four crew members, a pediatric patient, and the patient’s escort, were killed.
The plane, which was headed for Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, crashed and burst into flames, igniting nearby homes and vehicles. Visibility was severely impaired by rain at the time, and local authorities confirmed that at least one house and several vehicles were engulfed by the fire.
Read more: Pilot Identified in Army Black Hawk, Passenger Plane Mid-Air Crash
The emergency management office swiftly responded, labeling the incident a “major event” and confirming road closures in the affected area. The crash site, located less than five kilometers from the airport, was described as chaotic, with responders working to control the situation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that there were six people on board, and both the FAA and NTSB are conducting a joint investigation into the cause of the crash. Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company operating the aircraft, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy but could not confirm any survivors.
As the event unfolded, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker reassured the public that officials were doing everything possible to address the situation, although details regarding the number of casualties remained unclear.
This crash comes just days after a catastrophic mid-air collision near Washington D.C. between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane, which killed 67 people.
President Donald Trump, in a statement on Truth Social, expressed condolences, describing the incident as “so sad” and praising first responders for their efforts. He promised further updates and sent his blessings to those affected.
