PHILADELPHIA ‒ A Medevac aircraft tragically fell from the sky and struck a bustling neighborhood on Friday evening, resulting in the loss of at least seven lives and leaving 19 others injured, leaving destruction in its path.

On Saturday, investigators were on-site gathering clues while residents were still trying to process the shocking event. People gathered near the wreckage of broken aircraft parts and burnt vehicles to witness the aftermath. Many described the impact of the plane as reminiscent of a war zone.

Andre Boldin shared that the jet sounded like a missile roaring above him. Nearby, Andre Gary felt as though the world was coming to an end as he watched the plane descend like a meteor.

The mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker, expressed gratitude towards first responders, stating that crews were working tirelessly through the night to uncover the details of what transpired.

In a sad confirmation on Saturday morning, Mayor Parker stated that all six people aboard the aircraft perished, along with one individual who was in a car struck by debris from the medical flight. She cautioned that the numbers of casualties and injuries may rise as the recovery efforts advance.

“We will identify the cause of this tragedy,” she affirmed.

The six casualties on the plane were from Mexico, including a young girl who had received treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, her mother, medical crew members, and the pilots, as noted by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance spokesperson Shai Gold.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the fatalities and offered condolences to the families affected in a statement on Saturday morning via X, previously known as Twitter.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the jet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and crashed around 6:30 p.m. Friday while en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The incident occurred near the Roosevelt Mall at the intersection of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, a heavily trafficked area filled with numerous businesses and residences.

This crash in Philadelphia follows a midair collision in Washington D.C. that resulted in 67 fatalities, marking the deadliest passenger air disaster in the United States in over twenty years.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are currently examining the crash site, and the FAA has pledged assistance in the inquiry.

Political leaders react to the disaster

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his gratitude to federal officials for their support in investigating the crash and emphasized the importance of community togetherness during this time of sorrow.

“This is more than just emergency responders collaborating at state, local, and federal levels; this is about neighbors coming together to support one another,” he stated on Saturday morning.

Former President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social late Friday evening, praised the first responders and extended his sympathies to the victims.

“It’s heart-wrenching to see a plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent lives lost,” Trump wrote. “Our people are fully engaged. First responders are already being credited for their excellent work. More information will follow. God bless you all.”

Air traffic control attempted to contact the fateful aircraft

Communications from air traffic control shed light on the moments when controllers sought to reach the ill-fated jet.

Although the Medevac pilot did not report any problems over the radio, the air traffic control tower suspected something was amiss.

“Medevac med service zero-five-six, northeast tower, are you on frequency?” a controller inquired almost four minutes after the jet’s departure from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, as per an audio file retrieved from liveatc.net.

Shortly after, another voice asked, “What’s happening down there?”

“We have a lost aircraft,” the operator replied.

Response crews inspect the crash site

Adam Thiel, the managing director of the City of Philadelphia, indicated that crews are going door-to-door in the vicinity of the crash to detect any undetected damage. He estimated that it might take several days to fully understand the extent of the tragedy.

He assessed the area of impact to be around four to six blocks wide, though debris extended into further areas.

Philadelphia fire officials reported that five homes were engulfed in flames, but those fires have since been extinguished. The officials did not specify how many cars were affected.

What is a Medevac jet?

Medevac, an abbreviation for “medical evacuation,” refers to flights carried out by aircraft outfitted with advanced medical equipment, including ventilators, defibrillators, and monitoring devices, along with medical personnel responsible for offering care to patients en route to medical facilities, as stated by aviation news platform Simple Flying.

These aircraft, essentially “flying ambulances,” are manned by specially trained medical staff, according to Fly REVA, an international air ambulance provider based in Arizona, Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico.

While helicopters may be utilized for Medevac operations, fixed-wing planes like the Learjet are preferred due to their ability to take off and land on short airstrips. Their large cargo doors facilitate the loading and unloading of stretchers, as stated by the site.

The medical personnel on a Medevac flight can include intensive care physicians, flight doctors, and flight nurses, according to Medical Air Service Worldwide, an air ambulance provider with offices in New York and London.

Equipment found on a Medevac flight may comprise a satellite phone, an intensive care unit, respirator, defibrillator, blood gas analyzer, and oxygen tanks, the company indicated.

Pilots may receive extra medical training that includes knowledge of infection control and procedures for loading and unloading patients, as highlighted by MedicTests, an evaluation site.

– Mike Snider

Child on board the plane was in Philadelphia for medical treatment

Jet Rescue was tasked with transporting the child from Philadelphia to Tijuana, Mexico, Gold confirmed. He noted that a charitable organization funded the flight, although he was unable to disclose its name.

“Our thoughts are with the families affected,” Gold stated. “This is an irreplaceable loss.”

According to a hospital representative’s interview with CBS3 in Philadelphia, Shriners Hospital Philadelphia had been providing treatment for the girl and held a celebratory sendoff for her before the flight on Friday.

Gold also stated that the company had experienced a fatal crash earlier in 2023 in Mexico, resulting in the loss of five crew members.

The LearJet 55, among the largest available models, is utilized by only a few air ambulance companies like Jet Rescue due to its high costs, but it is known for being an “exceptionally reliable jet.” Jet Rescue operates approximately 600 to 700 flights annually around the globe, and the frequency of LearJet 55 flights in the five days leading up to the crash was typical, Gold remarked.

He added that the company’s crew training surpasses industry standards, their aircraft are “well-maintained,” and they prioritize safety, treating each flight as a “sacred mission.”

“Every flight feels like it’s our first flight,” Gold emphasized. “If a warning light goes on in the  aircraft remains immobile, regardless of its location.

‘Assistance Needed’

Michael Hitchner, a Philadelphia local, was in his vehicle when the plane went down nearby. He recounted using his shirt to help stop the bleeding from a child’s head, who sustained injuries from debris that crashed through their car’s windshield.

“The parents were crying out, ‘Help us, help us, help us!'” Hitchner shared. He also noted that he and his wife observed additional chaos at the scene. “My wife spotted a severed foot. I noticed a dismembered arm. Medical supplies were strewn about everywhere,” Hitchner explained.

“It was an incredibly shocking and distressing experience to witness everything that unfolded. When I got home, I threw up twice.”

– Jim Walsh

Role of the National Transportation Safety Board

The NTSB is an independent federal entity tasked by Congress to look into transportation accidents within the U.S., covering incidents involving aircraft, trains, roadway vehicles, and maritime transport, as stated on the NTSB’s official website.

The agency, which is overseen by a five-member board, is currently examining the incident involving an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided in midair near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday.

Count of Plane Crashes in 2025

Thus far in 2025, there have been eight aviation crashes across the U.S. — inclusive of bird strikes and individual aircraft mishaps, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

Before the recent collision between the passenger jet and the Army helicopter close to Reagan Washington National Airport, there had been no casualties in the U.S. this year.

That crash resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals. Including the casualties from the Philadelphia incident, the total number of air crash-related fatalities in the U.S. for 2025 has now reached 74.

‘No Contributions’ Needed, Mayor Asserts

Mayor Parker encouraged individuals wishing to assist the victims of this tragedy to keep the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in their thoughts and prayers. She emphasized that “no contributions are necessary at this time” during a press briefing on Saturday.

She announced that officials were working on establishing “formal, actionable methods” for the public to assist during this heartbreaking event.

Information Unveiled About the Plane

As per the online flight tracking platform Flight Aware, the aircraft involved is a 43-year-old Learjet 55, registered to Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which operates out of Miami and Mexico.

In the days leading up to the incident, the plane had navigated through airports in Mexico, Haiti, Florida, and Arizona. On the company’s website, a video showcases the plane while highlighting Jet Rescue’s ability to transport patients globally and promoting the company’s “impeccable safety record.”

YSL News has contacted Jet Rescue for a statement.

– Trevor Hughes

Contributors: Trevor Hughes and Eduardo Cuevas; Jim Walsh, YSL News Network; Bucks County Courier Times; Reuters