Philadelphia plane crash – latest: Medical jet crashes into busy residential street moments after take-off

A mid-size air ambulance plane crashed on Friday night shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, plowing into a residential area with densely packed row houses, setting off at least six house fires.
The flight, a Learjet 55 registered to a medical transport company, was carrying six passengers.
The flight carried a pediatric patient, an escort, and four crew members, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said.
It crashed near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, near the Roosevelt Mall, according to officials.
“There was a large explosion, so I thought we were under attack for a second,” local resident Michael Schiavone told NPR.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said the state was offering all “Commonwealth resources as they respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly.”
The crash in Pennsylvania comes just two days after an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying a combined 67 people collided, likely leaving no survivors.
Transportation Secretary briefs president, Penn. governor
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffyโs office has been in close contact with the White House and the governor of Pennsylvaniaโs office, according to the DOT.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:40
Police warn of ‘extended’ street closure as responders battle blaze
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:34
Audio captures air traffic controllers discussing ‘lost’ plane
Audio captures air traffic controllers in Philadelphia attempting unsuccessfully to reach a medical transport plane that crashed into a city neighborhood Friday night.
โAre you on frequency?โ a controller asks, after the plane does not respond to a previous message, according to audio obtained by CNN.
โWe have a lost aircraft,โ the controller continues. โWeโre not exactly sure what happened, so weโre trying to figure it out for now.โ
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:27
Trump White House ‘totally engaged’ in crash response

The president has weighed in on the Philadelphia plane crash.
โSo sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,โ Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. โMore innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all.โ
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:20
New details on medical flight that crashed in Philadelphia
Eyewitnesses said the sky was โlit upโ by the explosion, which was later declared a โmajor incidentโ by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management.
According to the FAA, the plane departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:30 p.m. local time, en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri and was airborne for only about 40 seconds, reaching an altitude of just 1,600 feet.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:12
Air ambulance ‘cannot confirm any survivors’
Itโs still too early to tell if any people survived a Friday night plane crash in a residential area in Philadelphia.
โAt this time, we cannot confirm any survivors. No names are being released at this time until family members have been notified,โ Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said in a statement of its downed plane.
โOur immediate concern is for the patient’s family, our personnel, their families and other victims that may have been hurt on the ground,โ the company added.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:06
Air ambulance was carrying pedtric patient
The plane that crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood tonight was carrying a child patient, according to its operator.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 02:00
Live feed: Scene after a small plane carrying two people crashed in Philadelphia
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:49
Mayor has ‘no reports’ on number of fatalities
Mayor Cherelle Parker said during a press conference Friday night that officials have โno reportsโ so far on the number of deaths from a jet that crashed into a residential area in Philadelphia.
โAs of right now we have no reports on the number of fatalities so right now weโre just asking for prayers,โ she said, noting the crash had impacted “several dwelling and vehicles.โ
She urged residents to call 911 about debris and avoid the crash scene.
The FAA has said six people were onboard.
Josh Marcus1 February 2025 01:44