PHILADELPHIA, PA – A Mexican medical transport plane crashed into a northeast Philadelphia neighborhood on Friday night, killing all six people on board and at least one person on the ground, with more than a dozen others injured.
The small aircraft, which was on a medical transport mission, went down just minutes after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:07 PM local time. The plane was carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members, according to officials.
Crash Details and Investigation
Flight logs indicate that the plane was in the air for only one minute before crashing less than four miles (6.4 km) away, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed. Shocking videos posted online show the plane descending rapidly before erupting into a massive fireball upon impact, engulfing several buildings.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Victims and Nationality
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all six victims on board were Mexican nationals. The flight was en route to Springfield, Missouri, before heading to Mexico, where the child was to receive further medical treatment.
Reactions and Ongoing Response
In a statement, former President Donald Trump expressed condolences, saying, “So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost.” He also stated that his administration was “totally engaged” in response efforts.
The Philadelphia Fire Department and emergency crews worked through the night to control the flames and rescue survivors. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of injuries and damage to the neighborhood.
Deadliest U.S. Plane Crash in Over 20 Years
This Philadelphia tragedy comes just two days after another devastating aviation disaster, when a commercial jet collided with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. That incident marked the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. in over two decades.
Authorities continue to investigate both crashes as the nation mourns the lives lost in these back-to-back tragedies.
