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A mid-size air ambulance plane crashed on Friday night shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, plowing into a residential area with densely packed row houses, setting off fires.
The flight, a Learjet 55 registered to a medical transport company, was carrying six passengers.
The flight carried a pediatric patient, an escort, and four crew members, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said.
It crashed near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, near the Roosevelt Mall, according to officials.
“There was a large explosion, so I thought we were under attack for a second,” local resident Michael Schiavone told NPR.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said the state was offering all “Commonwealth resources as they respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly.”
The crash in Pennsylvania comes just two days after an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying a combined 67 people collided, likely leaving no survivors.
New details on medical flight that crashed in Philadelphia
Eyewitnesses said the sky was “lit up” by the explosion, which was later declared a “major incident” by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management.
According to the FAA, the plane departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:30 p.m. local time, en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri and was airborne for only about 40 seconds, reaching an altitude of just 1,600 feet.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:12
Air ambulance ‘cannot confirm any survivors’
It’s still too early to tell if any people survived a Friday night plane crash in a residential area in Philadelphia.
“At this time, we cannot confirm any survivors. No names are being released at this time until family members have been notified,” Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said in a statement of its downed plane.
“Our immediate concern is for the patient’s family, our personnel, their families and other victims that may have been hurt on the ground,” the company added.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:06
Air ambulance was carrying pedtric patient
The plane that crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood tonight was carrying a child patient, according to its operator.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:00
Live feed: Scene after a small plane carrying two people crashed in Philadelphia
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:49
Mayor has ‘no reports’ on number of fatalities
Mayor Cherelle Parker said during a press conference Friday night that officials have “no reports” so far on the number of deaths from a jet that crashed into a residential area in Philadelphia.
“As of right now we have no reports on the number of fatalities so right now we’re just asking for prayers,” she said, noting the crash had impacted “several dwelling and vehicles.”
She urged residents to call 911 about debris and avoid the crash scene.
The FAA has said six people were onboard.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:44
WATCH: Philadelphia plane crash caught on Ring video
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:38
Transportation Secretary provides update on Philadelphia plane crash
Transportation Sean Duffy has provided an initial update about the plane that just crashed in Philadelphia.
The aircraft, a Learjet 55, crashed around 6:30 p.m, as it left Philadelphia on its way to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri.
“There were reportedly 6 people on board,” Duffy said.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:36
PHOTOS: Crews put out fires after jet crash in Philadelphia
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:32
Plane crashes in busy residential area near Philadelphia mall, sparking fires
A business jet has crashed near a mall in Philadelphia, with multiple casualties reported, according to several law enforcement sources.
Harrowing footage of the incident, from multiple angles, showed an enormous explosion after a twin-engine Learjet 55 came down in a “high traffic” residential neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia.
Eyewitnesses said the sky was “lit up” by the explosion, which was later declared a “major incident” by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management.
According to the FAA, the plane departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:30 p.m. local time, en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri and was airborne for only about 40 seconds, reaching an altitude of just 1,600 feet.
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:27
A plane crash in Philadelphia
A small plane has crashed in a residential area in Philadelphia, just two days after a helicopter and an Army jet collided outside of Washington.
We’ll be following all the latest news live.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:26