A medevac plane crashed soon after takeoff in Philadelphia with a child and five others on board, the air ambulance company that operated it said, adding that it had not confirmed any survivors.
The aircraft belonged to Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a company specializing in medical air transport, and was registered in Mexico. The passengers included a minor child-patient, a six year old girl, their mother, and four crew members, all Mexican national. The child had recently undergone major surgery.
Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft descended at a steep angle before a massive explosion occurred, causing fires in nearby houses, injuring at least six people.
The accident occurred near the intersection of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, just 5 kilometers from the airport, in a densely populated area. Initial reports indicate serious damage to residences.
The magnitude of the tragedy is reflected in eyewitness accounts.
“I heard a deafening noise and my house shook,” said Michael Schiavone, a resident of the Mayfair area. “It felt like an earthquake. When I looked at my security camera, the plane looked like a missile falling. For a moment, I thought we were under attack.”
Videos from the scene show flames erupting from houses and thick smoke rising into the sky, while residents fled into the streets in terror.
This incident marks the second fatal crash of a Jet Rescue aircraft within 15 months.
In 2023, a company aircraft crashed in Mexico when it veered off the runway and crashed into a mountainside, resulting in the death of all five crew members.
Jet Rescue has been operating for 20 years in medical air transport from Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean to the USA and Canada, providing intensive air transport services for critical cases.
President Trump, expressed his sorrow for the tragedy in a social media post.
“It’s tragic to witness another aviation accident in Philadelphia. Innocent souls have been lost again. Emergency services have been fully mobilized and are already receiving praise for their excellent work,” the American President stated.
The Governor of Pennsylvania assured that the State is working closely with local authorities, providing all possible assistance to address the consequences of the tragedy.
REUTERS
