A mid-size air ambulance plane carrying a sick child and five others crashed on Friday night shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, plowing into a residential area and setting off at least six house fires.
The crash occurred in the Northeast part of the city around 6:10 p.m, a city statement read. A medical transportation jet carrying a mother, daughter and four crew members were killed.
On Saturday night the six people on board – all Mexican nationals – were identified. The young girl was named as Valentina Guzman Murillo, and had been traveling with her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.
The plane was piloted by Captain Alan Montoya Perales, along with his copilot Josue Juarez. Also onboard was Dr Raul Meza Arredon, and Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, a paramedic.
The Learjet 55 aircraft was operated by Mexico-based air ambulance company Jet Rescue Air Ambulance. It had ascended to 16,000 feet when it suddenly fell from the sky.
Nineteen people sustained on-the-ground injuries. One person who was in their car at the time of the crash died.
President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it was "so sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost."
Key Points
- Plane crashes in busy residential area near Philadelphia mall, sparking fires
- WATCH: Philadelphia plane crash caught on Ring video
- All crew and passengers of Learjet 55 named
- Donald Trump mourns ‘innocent souls lost’ in Philadelphia crash
- Everything we know about Philadelphia crash
Breaking: Full crew and passengers of Learjet 55 named
03:42
,
Mike Bedigan
The entire crew and passengers on board the Learjet 55 that crashed in Philadelphia have been identified by the aircraft’s operating company Jet Rescue Air Ambulance.
The young girl was named as Valentina Guzman Murillo, and had been traveling with her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.
The plane was piloted by Captain Alan Montoya Perales, along with his copilot Josue Juarez.
Also onboard was Dr Raul Meza Arredon, and Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, a paramedic.
In photos: The scene on Saturday
03:00
,
Michelle Del Rey
Anyone concerned about a missing loved one is encouraged to call 911
02:00
,
Michelle Del Rey
Anyone who thinks that their friends or relatives were in the area where the crash occurred should notify authorities, Philadelphia Managing Director Adam Thiel said.
Pediatric patient and her mother among the seven killed in fiery Philadelphia plane crash
01:00
,
Michelle Del Rey
A young girl traveling home after completing “life-saving” medical treatment, her mother, and at least one medical professional were on board when an air ambulance fell out of the sky and crashed into a residential Philadelphia neighborhood.
Seven people in total have now been confirmed dead, with 19 more injured, following the shocking incident on Friday evening. Several dwellings and vehicles sustained damage in the crash.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum later confirmed that all six people onboard the flight, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, were Mexican citizens. The seventh person killed was on the ground.
Read more from Mike Bedigan...
WATCH: CCTV footage shows restaurant patrons being hit with debris
00:00
,
Michelle Del Rey
Patrons and employees can be seen ducking for cover as the explosion occurred on the Northside of the city Friday night.
New video from the plane crash in Philadelphia shows debris hitting a nearby restaurant.
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) February 1, 2025
At least 1 customer was hit by flying debris, causing a head injury. pic.twitter.com/W1GTEEU8Pf
WATCH: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issues update
Saturday 1 February 2025 23:36
,
Michelle Del Rey
NTSB speaks on investigating two major incidents
Saturday 1 February 2025 23:30
,
Michelle Del Rey
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stressed it is not unusual for the agency to be investigating two major accidents at once. “We are a highly-skilled agency,” she said during a news briefing in Philadelphia Saturday.
The NTSB has 436 employees spanning across all modes of transportation. The agency has two separate teams of investigators probing crashes in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. at the respective scenes.
NTSB says it has located two engines, still looking for cockpit voice recorder
Saturday 1 February 2025 23:03
,
Michelle Del Rey
As parts of the aircraft remain scattered across Northeast Philadelphia, NTSB Chairwoman wants individuals to look out for the device.
It could be intact but is likely damaged or fragmented, Homendy said.
The chairwoman is asking anyone who finds the recorder to call witness@ntsb.gov.
The device is helpful to investigators in determining what went wrong.
NTSB holds briefing on crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 22:41
,
Michelle Del Rey
Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy says she’s been “moved by the outpouring of support for the NTSB over this past week.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead US investigative authority for transportation disasters.
Homendy said the US Parks Service flew her up by helicopter from Ronald Reagan International Airport to Northeast Philadelphia Airport on Saturday.
The NTSB is also investigating the American Eagle crash that occurred on Wednesday after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with the plane mid-air on its descent. Sixty-seven people died in the incident.
Doctor on board flight identified
Saturday 1 February 2025 20:30
,
Michelle Del Rey
Dr Raúl Meza, the head of neonatology for XE Médica Ambulancias, a private emergency services company, was on board the aircraft, the company confirmed Saturday in an X post.
Meza studied medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and pediatrics and neonatology at the National Institute of Pediatrics.
He was a physician assigned to the NICU at the Instituto de Salud del Estado de México in Atizapan, over 2,000 km from where the plane was due to land in Tijuana.
Death toll still unconfirmed – but officials 'know there will be loss'
Saturday 1 February 2025 19:30
,
Namita Singh
An official confirmation of the death toll from Friday's evening's crash is not expected until the morning, but there were six people on board the air ambulance that came down in a fiery crash and currently no reports of any survivors.
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late on Friday that officials expected fatalities in the "awful aviation disaster”.
"We know that there will be loss," he said.
Six people were injured on the ground, but none are in a life-threatening condition.
Philadelphia Managing Director Adam Thiel says it could be days or more before total number of casualties is known
Saturday 1 February 2025 17:56
,
Michelle Del Rey
There are a lot of unknowns about the number of people on the streets when the incident occurred, Thiel said during a news conference.
“It will likely be days or more until we are able to definitively answer the question about the number of folks who perished in this tragedy,” he said, explaining how he anticipates the number of casualties will change.
Mayor Cherelle L Parker confirms seven dead, 19 injured
Saturday 1 February 2025 17:06
,
Michelle Del Rey
Seven people are confirmed dead and 19 injured after a plane crashed in North Philadelphia Friday.
Parker confirmed the development in a social media post. Six of the deceased were on board the aircraft while one individual was in a car.
Several dwellings and vehicles sustained damage in the crash. Local officials are working with state and federal partners to determine the cause of the incident.
“Much more work needs to be done. Please stay home and safe,” Parker said.
Four people spent Friday night at Philadelphia shelter
Saturday 1 February 2025 16:30
,
Michelle Del Rey
The Red Cross is currently running an emergency shelter close to the site of the plane crash. It said four people spent the evening there on Friday.
The charity is asking individuals not to bring material donations to the facility.
“We understand people want to help and appreciate the support. Right now, the Red Cross has what it needs to support the community,” the organization said.
“We ask that you not bring material donations such as clothing or food to the shelter. We're working to identify partners to handle donations.”
Emergency shelter open across the street from site
Saturday 1 February 2025 15:50
,
Michelle Del Rey
A shelter has been opened at Samuel Fels High School at 5500 Langdon Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
The facility is being operated with the Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross to assist those who’ve been displaced by the incident.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L Parker said the crash impacted several dwellings in the area.
“Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross disaster workers are there to assist anyone who’s been displaced by this tragedy,” a statement said.
“People have already begun using the shelter – and we encourage anyone who needs this service to avail themselves.”
WATCH: Philadelphia man describes helping injured child on the ground
Saturday 1 February 2025 15:20
,
Michelle Del Rey
“I don’t record. I help”
— Chris O'Connell (@CoconnellFox29) February 1, 2025
Philly man describes how he helped some of the injured on the ground after last nights medical transport plane crash in NE Philadelphia . All 6 onboard killed. No word on yet on how many injuries or fatalities on the ground. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/WLMbMquHi4
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says he's briefed Trump, Pennsylvania governor after crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 14:53
,
Michelle Del Rey
“Just briefed the President and Governor Shapiro from FAA headquarters,” Duffy wrote on X. “I offered the full support of the US Department of Transportation to the Governor and local officials.”
Philadelphia Eagles express condolences
Saturday 1 February 2025 18:42
,
Michelle Del Rey
“The Eagles organization was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of life earlier this evening as a result of the plane crash in North East Philadelphia,” the team said in a social media statement.
“We extend our condolences to the victims and loved ones they leave behind. We are grateful to the first responders for their heroic actions at the scene.”
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 1, 2025
Pediatric patient and her mother among seven killed in fiery Philadelphia plane crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 23:23
,
Michelle Del Rey
A young girl traveling home after completing “life-saving” medical treatment, her mother, and at least one medical professional were on board when an air ambulance fell out of the sky and crashed into a residential Philadelphia neighborhood.
Seven people in total have now been confirmed dead, with 19 more injured, following the shocking incident on Friday evening. Several dwellings and vehicles sustained damage in the crash.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum later confirmed that all six people onboard the flight, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, were Mexican citizens. The seventh person killed was on the ground.
Read more from Mike Bedigan...
Pictures capture dramatic scene of Philadelphia crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 11:30
,
Namita Singh
Recap: Air ambulance plane carrying sick child and 5 others crashes into homes in Philadelphia
Saturday 1 February 2025 10:29
,
Namita Singh
A medical transport jet transporting a child who had just completed treatment for a life-threatening condition, her mother and four others crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood shortly after takeoff on Friday evening, exploding in a fireball that engulfed several homes.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operated the Learjet 55, said in a statement: "We cannot confirm any survivors."
There was no immediate word whether anyone on the ground was killed, but at least six people were treated for injuries at a hospital.
Everyone aboard the flight was from Mexico.
The child was being transported home, according to Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold. The flight's final destination was Tijuana after a stop in Missouri.
The patient and her mother were on board along with four crew members. Mr Gold said this was a seasoned crew and everyone involved in these flights goes through rigorous training.
"When an incident like this happens, it's shocking and surprising," Mr Gold told The Associated Press. "All of the aircraft are maintained, not a penny is spared because we know our mission is so critical."
Will Republicans blame this disaster on DEI too?
Saturday 1 February 2025 09:30
,
Josh Marcus
Search and rescue teams hadn’t even finished pulling the bodies out of the Potomac River before Donald Trump began blaming diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs for the disastrous Wednesday night plane crash between a military helicopter and a commercial jet outside Washington that likely killed 67 people.
That leads one to wonder, will Trump politicize the Philadelphia crash too and blame DEI?
Earlier this week, we had this analysis on why the right is so quick to blame DEI in the wake of tragedy.
In video: Ring doorbell camera captures moment small plane explodes into fireball in Philadelphia neighborhood
Saturday 1 February 2025 09:00
,
Namita Singh
A Ring doorbell camera has captured the horrifying moment an air ambulance plane crashed into a “high traffic” residential area, starting fires on Friday night (31 January).
Watch the video here:
What we know so far as Learjet air ambulance comes down in huge explosion near mall
Saturday 1 February 2025 11:27
,
Namita Singh
An air ambulance carrying a young girl, her mother and four crew members crashed into a busy residential area of northeast Philadelphia Friday, erupting in a fireball.
The aircraft came down just after 6pm local time near the Roosevelt Mall, damaging half a dozen homes and a number of vehicles. Shocking footage showed a large mushroom-shaped fireball shooting into the sky upon the plane’s impact.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operated the Learjet 55, said in a statement: "We cannot confirm any survivors.”
Map: Philadelphia officials warn of road closures
Saturday 1 February 2025 08:30
,
Josh Marcus
Major road closures due to the aircraft response and investigation: Cottman Ave closed between Bustleton and Brous Aves. Roosevelt Boulevard outer lanes from Rhawn St to Tyson Ave. Saint Vincent St closed between Bustleton Ave and Castor Ave (1/2) pic.twitter.com/ZdVxOVixdo
— Philadelphia OEM (@PhilaOEM) February 1, 2025
‘I thought we were under attack’: Eyewitness describes seeing crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 08:25
,
Namita Singh
One cellphone video taken by a witness moments after the crash showed a chaotic scene with debris scattered across the intersection. A wall of orange glowed just beyond as a plume of black smoke rose into the sky and sirens blared.
Michael Schiavone, 37, was sitting at his home in Mayfair, a nearby neighborhood, when he heard a loud bang and his house shook. He said it felt like a mini earthquake and when he checked his home security camera, it looked like a missile came down.
"There was a large explosion, so I thought we were under attack for a second," he said.
Final instructions from air traffic control before Philadelphia crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 08:07
,
Namita Singh
Shortly after 6pm, audio recorded by LiveATC captured an air traffic controller telling "Medevac Medservice 056" to turn right when departing.
About 30 seconds later it repeats the request before asking: "You on frequency?"
Minutes later, the controller says: "We have a lost aircraft. We're not exactly sure what happened, so we're trying to figure it out. For now the field is going to be closed."
What we know so far
Saturday 1 February 2025 08:01
,
Namita Singh
- An air ambulance plane crashed shortly after take-off into a row of houses in Philadelphia on Friday night
- Flight was operated by a Mexican NGO and transporting a child who had just completed treatment for a life-threatening condition, as well as her mother and four others
- No survivors have been found from the plane, while Pennsylvania's governor says 'there will be loss'
- All six people on board the flight were Mexican nationals
- At least six people on the ground were injured, with three of the six discharged after receiving treatment at Temple University Hospital
Red Cross on scene at Philadelphia plane crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 07:30
,
Josh Marcus
The Red Cross is joining the local, state, and federal officials racing to the scene of a plane crash in a residential neighborhood in Philadelphia.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by the tragic incident in Northeast Philadelphia tonight,” the organization wrote on X. “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.”
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
Six injured admitted to Temple University – reports
Saturday 1 February 2025 06:35
,
Namita Singh
At least six people injured in the crash were admitted to Temple University Hospital, the authorities told ABC News.
While three patients were treated and released, three remain hospitalised, the outlet reported. The nature of injuries sustained remains unclear.
Mexican officials work to confirm nationalities of passengers on downed medical plane in Philadelphia
Saturday 1 February 2025 06:30
,
Josh Marcus
The Mexican government is working to confirm the identities onboard an air ambulance flight that crashed in Philadelphia on Friday night.
The plane, from Mexico-based Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was reportedly carrying a pediatric patient from Mexico and her mother, who were returning to Tijuana after getting treatment in the U.S.
All on board plane were Mexican nationals, says government
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:41
,
Namita Singh
The Mexican government said all those on the plane were Mexican nationals, CNN reported.
The child was a girl on her way home with a final destination of Tijuana, Shai Gold, who works on corporate strategy with Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, told CNN. Her mother was also aboard, he said.
"We are terribly shocked by this tragic turn of events," Mr Gold said. "This was a very seasoned crew. We are a leading air ambulance company, we fly 600 to 700 times a year."
He said the company had invested heavily in maintaining its aircraft to the highest international standards and that the plane that crashed had been in excellent flying condition.
"We really don't know what happened," Mr Gold said.
Have there been other fatal crashes with air ambulances?
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:39
,
Namita Singh
There were 87 accidents involving air ambulances in the US from 2000 to 2020, resulting in 230 deaths, according to a study in the journal Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.
Nearly three quarters of those accidents were on helicopters.
Human factors that can include pilot error or disorientation, impairment and fatigue contributed to 87 per cent of the fatal crashes.
The Philadelphia crash was the second fatal incident in 15 months for Jet Rescue. In 2023, five crew members were killed when their plane overran a runway in the central Mexican state of Morelos and crashed into a hillside.
Weather was poor above Philadelphia at time of crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:30
,
Josh Marcus
Poor weather conditions were occurring in the skies above Philadelphia on Friday night when a medical transit jet crashed shortly after takeoff.
Poor weather conditions this evening at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) during the Learjet crash. The ceiling was only 600 feet. Rain was nearby. The jet crashed crashed three miles from the runway, in a densely populated area of northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall. pic.twitter.com/2Laq4WszV2
— Tyler Jankoski NBC5 (@TylerJankoski) February 1, 2025
The region was experiencing low clouds, light rain and fog.
“Unlike the midair collision in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night where adverse weather conditions were not present, inclement weather will likely be a key factor in the investigation into this small plane crash in Philadelphia,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said in a statement.
“Light rain and fog were reported in northeast Philadelphia at the time of the crash. Visibility at the surface was 5-7 miles. The base layer of clouds was 400-600 feet above the ground. Winds from the southwest at 10 mph were reported in the area at the time of the crash.”
“Weather conditions are a critical factor that investigators review after plane crashes. Of course, it is unclear if Friday night's rainy and foggy weather was a direct factor in this plane crash,” Porter added.
Who rides air ambulances?
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:23
,
Namita Singh
People with traumatic injuries, pregnancy complications, heart attacks, strokes and respiratory diseases are the most common users of air ambulances, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
More than 550,000 patients in the US use them every year.
In Hawaii, for example, they are frequently used to take patients from less populated islands, where health care is more limited, to Honolulu, where the state's biggest hospitals are located.
The owner of the plane that crashed in Philadelphia, Jet Rescue, flew baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz to Boston after he was shot in the Dominican Republican in 2019.
Air ambulances will often have similar life-saving equipment like ventilators and blood transfusion devices. They will have stretchers and incubators.
The Mayo Clinic, for example, said its air ambulances will have an external defibrillator, an external pacemaker and more than 60 medications.
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians care for patients on board. Sometimes doctors and nurses are on board.
What is an air ambulance?
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:20
,
Namita Singh
An air ambulance provides transportation to people in critical or life-threatening situations when a ground ambulance can't reach a patient or wouldn't get to them fast enough.
They help boost a patient's odds of surviving and recovering, particularly in rural areas that don't have trauma or burn centers, according to a 2017 US Government Accountability Office report.
They've grown in importance as more rural hospitals have closed, according to a medical journal report from 2022.
Air ambulances can be either a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft. Helicopters are generally used to take patients between hospitals or from the scene of an accident to a hospital. The airplane versions fly longer distances between airports.
Helicopters make up 74 per cent of all air ambulances, according to the GAO report.
The Philadelphia crash involved a Learjet 55, a small business jet.
NTSB to lead investigation as first responders reach crash site
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:10
,
Namita Singh
A continuous stream of police vehicles and fire trucks initially responded at the crash site, taking over business parking lots.
Within about an hour, the cry of sirens and shouted orders had faded into relative quiet at the edges of the closed-off area, and darkness settled in as drivers passing by peered out trying to see what was happening.
The plane crashed in a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping center in the densely populated neighborhood of Rhawnhurst.
One cellphone video taken by a witness moments after the crash showed a chaotic scene with debris scattered across the intersection. A wall of orange glowed just beyond as a plume of black smoke rose into the sky and sirens blared.
Michael Schiavone, 37, was sitting at his home in Mayfair, a nearby neighborhood, when he heard a loud bang and his house shook. He said it felt like a mini earthquake and when he checked his home security camera, it looked like a missile came down.
"There was a large explosion, so I thought we were under attack for a second," he said.
Jet Rescue, which provides global air ambulance services, flew baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz to Boston after he was shot in the Dominican Republic in 2019 and was involved in transporting patients critically ill with Covid-19.
The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. The NTSB said an investigator arrived and more officials would be there Saturday.
Donald Trump mourns ‘innocent souls lost’ in Philadelphia crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 05:05
,
Namita Singh
President Donald Trump has given his first response to the Philadelphia plane crash in a social media post.
Writing on his platform Truth Social, he said: "So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia."More innocent souls lost," he added.
"Our people are totally engaged."
Six people were on board the plane that crashed shortly after take-off, sparking a large fire. No survivors have yet been reported.
‘All we heard was a loud roar’
Saturday 1 February 2025 04:49
,
Namita Singh
In Philadelphia, a doorbell camera captured video of the plane plunging in a streak of white and exploding as it hit the ground near a shopping mall and major roadway.
"All we heard was a loud roar and didn't know where it was coming from. We just turned around and saw the big plume," said Jim Quinn, the owner of the doorbell camera.
The crash happened less than 5km from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which primarily serves business jets and charter flights.
The Learjet 55 quickly disappeared from radar after taking off from the airport at 6.06pm and climbing to an altitude of 487 meters.
It was registered to a company operating as Med Jets, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
US rocked by two plane crashes in three days
Saturday 1 February 2025 04:35
,
Namita Singh
The Philadelphia crash comes just two days after the deadliest US air disaster in a generation.
On Wednesday night, an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided in midair in Washington, DC, with an Army helicopter carrying three soldiers. There were no survivors.
The Philadelphia crash was also the second fatal incident in 15 months for Jet Rescue.
In 2023 five crew members were killed when their plane overran a runway in the central Mexican state of Morelos and crashed into a hillside.
‘We know there will be loss’
Saturday 1 February 2025 04:31
,
Namita Singh
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro said at a news conference late on Friday that officials expected fatalities in the "awful aviation disaster”.
"We know that there will be loss," he said.
Map shows location of Philadelphia plane crash
Saturday 1 February 2025 04:30
,
Josh Marcus
