A tragic incident unfolded in Philadelphia on Friday when a medical transport jet crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff, sparking fires, causing debris to scatter, and leaving residents shaken after another recent air disaster. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, two individuals were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.
The terrifying moment was captured by a doorbell camera, showing the plane plummeting from the sky in a blaze of white before erupting into a fireball upon impact in a residential area near a shopping center and major roadways. Jim Quinn, the owner of the doorbell camera, described the harrowing experience, stating, “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.”
The crash occurred within close proximity to Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which primarily serves business jets and charter flights. The plane involved in the incident was identified as a Learjet 55, which vanished from radar shortly after departing from the airport at 6:06 p.m. and reaching an altitude of 1,600 feet. The aircraft was en route to Springfield, Missouri, and was registered to a company operating as Med Jets, as per the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
This tragic event comes on the heels of the nation’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly 25 years, which occurred just two days prior. An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided midair in Washington, D.C., with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers, resulting in no survivors from the crash.
In response to the Philadelphia crash, Gov. Josh Shapiro pledged full Commonwealth resources to support the emergency response efforts. The National Transportation Safety Board will spearhead the investigation into the crash, with the FAA confirming their involvement in gathering crucial information.
Witnesses in the vicinity of the crash site described a chaotic scene with debris strewn across the intersection near Roosevelt Mall, where emergency responders worked to secure the area and manage traffic disruptions. Cell phone footage captured the aftermath, showing a fiery scene with billowing smoke and a sense of urgency as sirens blared in the background.
The aircraft involved in the crash was owned by Jet Rescue, a company known for providing global air ambulance services. Based in Mexico, Jet Rescue has been involved in high-profile medical transport missions, including the transfer of baseball legend David Ortiz to Boston following a shooting incident in the Dominican Republic in 2019.
As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, the community remains in shock over the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful evening in Philadelphia. The NTSB and other relevant authorities are committed to uncovering the details surrounding the incident and ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Associated Press writers Rio Yamat, Hallie Golden, and Josh Cornfield contributed to this report.
Originally Published: January 31, 2025 at 5:19 PM MST
