A medical transport plane carrying a child, her mother, and four other passengers tragically crashed near a mall in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening. The Learjet 55 went down shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, approximately around 6:30 p.m. The flight was headed to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it encountered disaster.
According to a statement from Shriners Children’s, the young patient had just received care at their Philadelphia hospital and was returning to her home country of Mexico with her mother when the crash occurred. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the medical crew and pilots who were also lost in this tragic event, as well as to all those affected on the ground. We are thankful to the first responders for their swift action,” the hospital expressed in a statement.
In an emotional appeal, a representative urged the community, “Right now, we’re just asking for prayers.”
The Philadelphia Fire Department has advised residents to stay away from the area surrounding Calvert and St. Vincent streets. Mayor Parker has urged individuals not to touch any debris and to call 911. For those displaced or affected, a shelter has been established at Samuel Fels High School, located on the 5500 block of Langdon Street.
The aftermath of the crash saw a large fire burning, triggering a substantial emergency response. Witnesses reported seeing vehicles, homes, and even people in the area engulfed in flames.
“It was just horrific. I was driving down the street, on my way to Wendy’s, when I saw a plane hit the building, and it exploded. The sky lit up, and I pulled over; it was just really bad around here,” recounted one witness, describing the scene as “earthquake-like.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to assess the situation and provide support to those impacted by this tragic event.
