Philadelphia Air Ambulance Crash Kills Seven, Injures Nineteen “`

PHILADELPHIA — On Saturday, authorities investigated the wreckage of an air ambulance that crashed and exploded in Philadelphia, leaving no survivors on board.

According to Adam Thiel, the city’s managing director, determining the final number of casualties may take days. As of Saturday morning, seven fatalities—six on the jet and one on the ground—and 19 injuries were confirmed.

The crash site, a busy intersection near Roosevelt Mall in a densely populated area, is extensive, and authorities are thoroughly assessing the damage, including house-to-house inspections.

Thiel acknowledged the possibility of revised casualty figures due to many uncertainties regarding the location of individuals in the neighborhood at the time of the crash.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the deaths of all six individuals on board the medical transport jet, all Mexican citizens.

Sheinbaum announced the confirmation of the deaths on the social media platform X, expressing condolences and outlining consular support for the families.

In addition to the deaths on board, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker reported one ground fatality (a person in a car) and 19 injuries.

The jet was transporting a child who had recently completed treatment at Shriners Children’s hospital, along with her mother and four crew members.

Shriners spokesperson Mel Bower stated that the patient was being transported home to Mexico via a contracted air ambulance but cited patient privacy concerns for withholding further details.

Tijuana was the flight’s planned final destination after a stopover in Missouri.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a Mexico-based company with operations in both Mexico and the U.S., operated the Learjet 55, registered in Mexico.

Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold stated that the plane was operated by a highly experienced crew who underwent rigorous training, emphasizing the company’s commitment to aircraft maintenance.

Gold described the incident as shocking and unexpected, highlighting the critical nature of their mission.

This crash follows the deadliest U.S. air disaster in recent history: a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., resulting in no survivors.

This marks Jet Rescue’s second fatal incident in 15 months; in 2023, five crew members died when their plane crashed into a hillside after overrunning a runway in Morelos, Mexico.

In Philadelphia, a doorbell camera captured footage of the plane’s descent, followed by an explosion near a shopping mall and major roadway.

A local resident, Jim Quinn, described hearing a loud roar and subsequently witnessing a large plume of smoke.

The crash occurred less than 3 miles from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a facility primarily serving business jets and charter flights.

The Learjet 55 disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff at 6:06 p.m., having reached an altitude of 1,600 feet. Flight Aware listed the aircraft as registered to Med Jets.

Air traffic control audio recordings captured communication with “Medevac Medservice 056,” including requests to turn right and subsequent inquiries about radio frequency, followed by an announcement regarding a lost aircraft and airport closure.

Michael Schiavone, a resident of the nearby Mayfair neighborhood, recounted hearing a loud bang and feeling his house shake, initially mistaking it for an attack.

Jet Rescue has provided global air ambulance services, notably transporting baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz and COVID-19 patients.

The FAA stated that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with investigators already on site.

—Associated Press writers Rio Yamat, Hallie Golden, Josh Cornfield, John O’Connor and Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.