A medical transport jet crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, causing an explosion and setting nearby homes on fire on Friday evening. The plane, which carried a child patient and five other people, quickly descended after takeoff.

Jet Rescue Confirms the Details

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance confirmed the details of the flight, stating that the plane was carrying the patient, another passenger, and four crew members. "We cannot confirm any survivors," the company said. "Our immediate concern is for the patient’s family, our personnel, their families, and others hurt on the ground."

Mayor Provides Update

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker provided an update, stating that details on fatalities were not available yet. However, she confirmed that several homes and vehicles had been damaged in the crash. "This is still an active scene under investigation," she added, as authorities worked to gather more information.

Doorbell Camera Captures the Crash

A doorbell camera nearby captured footage of the plane as it crashed. The camera recorded a white streak in the sky followed by a massive explosion. "All we heard was a loud roar," said Jim Quinn, the camera's owner. "We turned around and saw the big plume."

Crash Near Northeast Philadelphia Airport

The crash occurred less than 3 miles from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. After taking off at 6:06 p.m., the Learjet 55 climbed to 1,600 feet but quickly vanished from radar. The plane was headed to Springfield, Missouri, and was registered to Med Jets, an air ambulance company.

Governor Offers Resources

In response to the crash, Gov. Josh Shapiro offered all necessary resources. Emergency vehicles quickly arrived, setting up a perimeter and directing people away from the crash site.

Chaos and Destruction

The crash occurred near Roosevelt Mall in the densely populated Rhawnhurst neighborhood. As a result, witnesses captured chaotic scenes, with debris scattered across the intersection and black smoke rising into the sky. Meanwhile, Michael Schiavone, a nearby resident, felt his house shake. "I thought we were under attack for a second," he said.

Jet Rescue's Past Involvement

Jet Rescue, the company that owned the plane, is known for providing global air ambulance services. Notably, they flew baseball legend David Ortiz to Boston in 2019 after he was shot in the Dominican Republic.

NTSB to Investigate

Finally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would take charge of the investigation into the crash. The NTSB is currently gathering information to determine the cause of the incident.