
A U.S. air ambulance plane, carrying six people—including a young girl—has crashed in a Philadelphia residential area, creating chaos on the ground.
The Learjet 55, departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport on Friday evening, was headed to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. Shortly after takeoff, the plane lost control and crashed.
The medical transport aircraft, carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members, exploded into a fireball upon impact, damaging several homes.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operated the Learjet 55, stated: “We cannot confirm any survivors.” It’s unclear if anyone on the ground was killed.
The six individuals aboard were all from Mexico. The child had been treated in Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition and was being transported back home, according to Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold. The plane’s final destination was Tijuana, after a stop in Missouri.
Gold emphasized that the crew was experienced and well-trained for these flights. “It’s shocking when something like this happens,” Gold said. “All our aircraft are maintained meticulously because we know how critical our mission is.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed late Friday that fatalities were expected from the “devastating aviation disaster.”
“We know there will be loss,” he added.
The plane, registered in Mexico, was operated by Jet Rescue, based in Mexico with U.S. operations as well.
This crash occurred two days after the deadliest U.S. air disaster in a generation. On Wednesday, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers collided with an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., killing all aboard.
The Philadelphia crash marked Jet Rescue’s second fatal incident in 15 months. In 2023, five crew members died when their plane overran a runway in Morelos, Mexico, and crashed into a hillside.
A doorbell camera in the area captured footage of the plane plummeting, leaving a trail of white and exploding on impact near a shopping mall and major road.
Jim Quinn, the camera owner, described hearing a loud roar before seeing the large explosion. Michael Schiavone, 37, said his house shook from the blast, feeling like a mini earthquake. “It felt like we were under attack,” he said.






