Seven Dead, 22 Injured in Tragic Air Ambulance Crash in Philadelphia
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance confirmed no survivors aboard the plane, while one person in a car also died in the crash.
PHILADELPHIA — A devastating air ambulance crash near Roosevelt Mall in northeast Philadelphia on Friday night claimed the lives of seven people, including one person in a car. The Learjet, which was carrying six individuals, including medical staff and a patient, crashed shortly after takeoff, leading to a large-scale emergency response.
The victims aboard the plane have been identified as Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, patient Valentina Guzman Murillo, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Ozuna. Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company operating the flight, stated that it is unlikely anyone on board survived the crash.
Ground Casualties and Injuries Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that the number of injured individuals on the ground rose to 22. These victims were affected by debris from the crash, which damaged several vehicles and structures in the area. Five of the injured remain hospitalized, with three in critical condition. Further details about the injuries were not disclosed out of respect for the families of the victims.
“We have not, out of respect for their families and loved ones, shared the names of those impacted,” Mayor Parker said during a briefing on Sunday.
Details of the Crash The air ambulance was en route from Northeast Philadelphia Airport to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when it crashed at approximately 6:30 p.m. Learjet 55, which had taken off from Florida earlier in the day, was in the air for only a short period before descending rapidly. The plane had climbed to about 1,500 feet before making a slight turn and ultimately plummeting.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has classified the crash as an accident. No distress communication was made from the flight deck before the crash, and the flight’s trajectory is under investigation. NTSB officials are analyzing data and evidence from the scene, which includes the plane's cockpit voice recorder and ground proximity warning system, both of which were recovered from the impact site.
Investigation and International Response The NTSB is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The wreckage is being carefully examined at a secure location in Delaware. The NTSB also recovered both engines from the site and continues to gather evidence.
Mexican officials have confirmed that all six individuals aboard the plane were Mexican nationals. The Mexican Consulate is providing consular assistance and working with local authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash. The patient aboard the air ambulance, Valentina Guzman Murillo, was reportedly receiving life-saving treatment in the U.S. before returning to Mexico.
Witness Accounts Witnesses near the crash site described terrifying scenes as the plane went down. Odalis Acosta, who was at the Four Seasons Diner nearby, recalled the chaos. “Everything shook,” she said. “People dropped to the ground as glass shattered. Then we heard the explosion.”
A video from the scene showed a massive fireball and heavy smoke filling the air as emergency crews rushed to the site. The crash occurred just days after another deadly aviation incident near Washington, D.C., involving a midair collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter.
As the investigation continues, officials are working to piece together the sequence of events leading to the tragic crash. The NTSB urges anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward to aid in the investigation.