Philadelphia, PA – February 1, 2025
A twin-engine Learjet 55 air ambulance, carrying six people, including a pediatric patient and her mother, crashed in a residential neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (CNN).
The aircraft, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was transporting the child and her mother back home to Mexico after receiving medical treatment in Philadelphia. Also on board were a pilot, co-pilot, paramedic, and doctor, Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold told CNN. The plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) in Missouri for refueling before continuing to Tijuana, Mexico, as its final destination.
The Learjet 55, registered XA-UCI, took off just after 6 p.m. ET and climbed to 1,650 feet before suddenly plummeting. ADS-B Exchange data indicated the aircraft had a final descent rate of 11,000 feet per minute, suggesting a catastrophic failure. LiveATC.net audio captured an air traffic controller repeatedly trying to reach the aircraft before announcing, "We have a lost aircraft."
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion, and video from CNN affiliate WPVI showed flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site as emergency responders rushed to the scene. The Philadelphia Fire Department confirmed the blaze was later brought under control.
The crash impacted several houses and vehicles, according to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. The full extent of injuries and casualties has not been confirmed, but CNN affiliate KYW reported several injuries on the ground.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. While no official cause has been determined, Fox News cited sources suggesting a possible explosion involving oxygen cylinders on board.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has deployed state emergency personnel, transportation officials, and 45 state troopers to assist with the response. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is also monitoring the site for hazardous materials.
This tragedy comes just days after a major aviation disaster in Washington, D.C., where an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River (CNN).
The Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) was temporarily closed following the crash but has since reopened. Nearby, Roosevelt Mall was evacuated as a precaution, but no injuries or damage were reported at the shopping center.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance released a statement expressing concern for the patient’s family, their personnel, and any individuals affected on the ground. The company has withheld passenger identities until family notifications are completed.
The FAA and NTSB investigators are on-site analyzing wreckage and flight data to determine the cause of the crash. More details are expected as the investigation unfolds.
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