At least six people are feared dead after an air ambulance crashed into a U.S. neighborhood on Friday evening (January 31), marking the second aviation tragedy this week.
The small medical transport jet was carrying four crew members, a child patient, and her mother when it took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. About 30 seconds into the flight, the aircraft crashed into multiple buildings, triggering a massive fireball that engulfed several homes and vehicles in flames.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the Mexico-based company operating the flight, stated: “At this time, we cannot confirm any survivors.” The Mexican government has confirmed that all individuals on board were Mexican nationals.
According to Shai Gold, a spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the young patient had been receiving treatment in Philadelphia for a life-threatening condition and was being flown back home to Mexico. The flight was scheduled to stop in Springfield, Missouri, before reaching its final destination in Tijuana.
“When an incident like this occurs, it’s both shocking and devastating,” Gold remarked. “All our aircraft undergo rigorous maintenance, with no expense spared, as we recognize the critical nature of our mission.”
During a press conference late Friday night, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed deep concern over the “awful aviation disaster,” noting that fatalities were expected. “We know that there will be loss,” he said.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker added that while immediate details on fatalities were unavailable, multiple homes and vehicles had sustained severe damage. “This remains an active investigation,” she stated.
Eyewitnesses recounted a chaotic scene as emergency responders rushed to the burning wreckage. A doorbell camera captured dramatic footage of the jet plummeting from the sky before erupting in flames upon impact.
Jim Quinn, the owner of the doorbell camera, described the moment of the crash: “All we heard was a loud roar, and we didn’t know where it was coming from. When we turned around, we saw the huge plume of smoke.”
Former President Donald Trump commented on the incident via Truth Social, calling it “so sad” and lamenting the loss of “more innocent souls.” He added, “Our people are totally engaged.”
This Philadelphia crash follows closely after another devastating air disaster on Wednesday night, which became the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. in nearly 25 years. In that incident, an American Airlines jet collided mid-air with an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of all 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the plane, along with three soldiers on the helicopter.
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Source: ladbible.com