A small medical evacuation plane has crashed into several buildings in north-east Philadelphia, United States, setting homes and vehicles ablaze and injuring several people on the ground.
The Learjet 55 crashed at around 6:30 pm local time on Friday, January 31 evening after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says six people were onboard the plane at the time of the accident. The six included four crew members, a child patient and the patient’s escort (the mother).
“The plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri,” the FAA said. “The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.”
Our hearts go out to all those affected by the tragic incident in Northeast Philadelphia tonight. A team of trained Red Cross disaster workers is on the scene to assist those who have been displaced, and we’re working with our partners to assess any other needs.
— Red Cross Philadelphia (@RedCrossPhilly) February 1, 2025
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as residents crowded streets littered with fiery debris and pieces of the aircraft.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro pledged to offer all Commonwealth resources to the crews as they respond to the plane crash.
“We know that there will be loss,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said during a news conference at the scene of the crash. “We’ll continue to provide updates as more information on the awful aviation disaster is available.”
The plane crash comes just two days after a deadly collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter in Washington DC, where authorities suspect all 67 people on-board the ill-fated aircrafts were killed. This was the deadliest plane crash in the US in over 20 years.
