An air ambulance carrying six people crashed near a mall in northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, the company that operates the aircraft said.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said it could not confirm any survivors among those on board its plane, which included four crew members, a pediatric patient and the patient’s escort, according to a statement.
“Our immediate concern is for the patient’s family, our personnel, their families and other victims that may have been hurt on the ground,” the company said. A spokesperson said it’s unlikely anyone on board survived.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said at an evening news conference that the total number of fatalities was not yet known. She said “several dwellings and vehicles were impacted.”
The Learjet 55 departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, the FAA said in a statement.
On board were the pilot, a copilot, a physician, a paramedic, the patient, and the escort for the patient, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said.
A spokesperson for the company, Shai Gold, told NBC Philadelphia the patient was a child who had come to the U.S. for “life-saving treatment” and was returning to Mexico.
“The treatment ran its course. She was ready to go home, and we were contracted to bring her back home to Mexico,” Gold said. “Ultimate destination was the Tijuana International Airport and was scheduled to go home by ground ambulance.”
He said the cost of the flight was covered by an international charity.
The plane crashed around 6:30 pm. near Roosevelt Mall, an outdoor shopping center about 3 miles from the airport, according to Philadelphia police and fire first responders.
Video showed smoke and fire in the area of the crash.
“The FAA and NTSB will investigate,” the FAA said, referring to the National Transportation Safety Board. “The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on X that he’s in touch with Philadelphia officials and will provide updates as he gets them.
“We are offering all Commonwealth resources as they respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly,” he said.
Ring camera video of the crash verified by NBC News showed an airborne object descending at an angle in the distance. A fireball is then seen behind some rooflines.
Rev. Todd Sheridan Yeary, a former FAA air traffic controller, said with clearance to takeoff and an aircraft that has a reputation for airworthiness, something likely happened in the moments after its wheels left the ground.
“Something happened rather catastrophically after the aircraft lifted off,” he said on NBC News NOW. “We don’t know exactly what it is.”
He said the model of the jet is “high performance.”
“It is very reliable,” Yeary said. “It is very unusual to see what we’ve just witnessed.”
Air temperature around the time of the crash was 49 degrees, with light rain, some fog, and a wind guest of 30 mph recorded just before 6 p.m., according to National Weather Service data for Philadelphia.
The crash comes just days after the deadliest aviation incident in the U.S. in years.
On Wednesday, 67 people were killed when a passenger plane collided midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Anthony Cusumano, Meriam Bouarrouj and Anna Sundberg contributed.
