Small Jet Crashes Near Shopping Mall

A medical evacuation jet, carrying six individuals including a young patient and her mother, tragically crashed into a residential area in Philadelphia on Friday. The incident resulted in numerous casualties and a massive explosion that illuminated the night sky. The Learjet 55, which had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it abruptly fell from the sky shortly after takeoff, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The young patient, who had recently received critical medical treatment, was returning home to Mexico accompanied by her mother, a doctor, a paramedic, and two pilots. This information was provided by Shai Gold, the spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company that owned the aircraft. The company released a statement saying that they could not confirm any survivors at the time.

The crash was captured on video by a passing motorist. The footage showed a plume of smoke rising from the crash site. The impact of the crash was so severe that it was described as “earthquake-like” by an eyewitness. The crash resulted in multiple homes and cars being engulfed in flames, causing a significant amount of damage to the surrounding area.

Flight data revealed that the jet had taken off at 6:06 p.m. and had reached an altitude of 1,625 feet before it started to descend a minute later. The crash site was located in a residential area near Cottoman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, just over three miles from the airport. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker reported that the crash caused a large explosion and set multiple homes and cars on fire.

The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. Air traffic control reported a “lost aircraft” around the time of the crash. Six people not on the plane were hospitalized with injuries, three of whom were treated and released, while the other three were listed in stable condition.

Video footage showed a large fireball erupting after the plane nose-dived. Debris from the crash was scattered across the nearby Roosevelt Mall parking lot. A piece of metal debris even flew through the window of a diner located half a mile from the crash site, injuring a patron.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the incident. This tragic event follows closely on the heels of another aviation disaster in which a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight over Washington, DC, resulting in the loss of 67 lives.