A medical transport plane with six people on board crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday, just 30 seconds after takeoff. The plane, a Learjet 55, came down in a residential area, causing a massive explosion and fire, as seen on videos. There is no official word yet on the number of casualties, but the police reported several people injured on the ground to CBS News.
The plane, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was on a mission to transport a young patient and her mother from Philadelphia to Missouri and then to Tijuana, Mexico, due to the girl’s life-threatening condition. The pilot, copilot, a doctor, a nurse, the patient and her mother were all Mexican citizens on board.
According to the company’s spokesperson, the crew was experienced and specially trained and the company invests in maintaining its fleet of aircraft, knowing the importance of its mission.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the number of crew members and passengers, initially reporting that only two people were on board.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said, “We know there will be losses in this area.” US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on his social media platform, stating, “More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged.”
The plane crashed in a densely populated area in the northeastern part of the city and the site was cordoned off, with residents advised to avoid the area. Dramatic scenes of the explosion, fire and smoke are being shared on social media and US television. Just a few days ago, a plane crash in Washington claimed the lives of 67 people.