A medical transport jet carrying a child patient
and five others crashed in a Philadelphia neighborhood on Friday,
sparking a massive fire. The aircraft reportedly went down near a shopping
mall, engulfing several homes in flames, according to AFP.
Uncertainty Over Survivors
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company operating the flight,
stated that it could not confirm any survivors. “Our primary concern is
the well-being of the patient’s family, our crew members, and any potential
victims on the ground,” the company said in a statement.
Reports indicate that all six passengers aboard were from
Mexico, and the child was being transported home to Tijuana after
receiving treatment in Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition.
Emergency Response & Investigation
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management
confirmed a "major incident" near Cottman and Bustleton
Avenues, close to Roosevelt Mall. Roads in the vicinity, including parts
of Roosevelt Boulevard, were closed as emergency crews responded.
Flight tracking data showed the small jet took off at
6:06 PM (local time) but vanished from radar just 30 seconds later
after reaching 1,600 feet altitude, as reported by the Associated Press.
Eyewitness Accounts & Aftermath
Residents near the crash site reported hearing a loud
explosion. One local witness told AP, “My house shook—I thought we were
under attack.”
This incident comes just days after a major aviation
disaster near Washington, D.C., where a passenger jet collided
with an Army helicopter, claiming 67 lives—marking the deadliest air
crash in the U.S. in two decades.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are now probing the circumstances surrounding
the Philadelphia crash, including weather conditions, flight path, and
possible technical malfunctions. More details are expected as the
investigation progresses.