What we know about the plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia
NTSB investigators found the Learjet 55's cockpit voice recorder Sunday. The agency said it was 8 feet down at the site of initial impact. The death toll is 7, with 22 injured.
A medical transport jet with six people on board plummeted to the ground near Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia Friday night, bursting into flames that spread to homes and cars in a heavily trafficked area and killing everyone on board the plane and at least one person on the ground.
The Learjet 55 went down shortly after 6 p.m. near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard just after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, creating a chaotic and horrific scene of death and destruction.
» READ MORE: Liveblog: Follow our continuing coverage of the medical jet crash in Northeast Philadelphia
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed six of the country’s nationals had died in the crash. The person on the ground who was killed was in a car, according to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. As of Monday, 24 people on the ground had been reported injured, she said.
A shelter has been established for those who could not get to their homes or whose homes were damaged in the crash and resulting fire. And a town hall is planned for Wednesday for the public to ask questions about the crash and the cleanup process.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board have been on the scene and on Sunday located the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, or “black box.”
What happened?
A private medical transport jet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport just after 6 p.m. and within a minute appeared to have nosedived into a commercial and residential area 3.5 miles away near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Witnesses captured video and pictures of a giant fireball and dark black smoke rising from the crash site.
Who owned the plane and where was it going?
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a medical flight company, owns the Learjet 55. The aircraft was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, with Tijuana, Mexico, its ultimate destination.
» READ MORE: What we know about the ambulance jet that crashed in Northeast Philly
Who was on the plane?
The company said a pilot, copilot, flight physician, and paramedic along with a pediatric patient and her mother were on the plane. The patient had been treated at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was returning home with her mother on a “contracted air ambulance,” said a hospital spokesperson, describing the Shriners community as “heartbroken.”
Have the victims been identified?
The girl who had just completed four months of treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia has been identified by the mayor of her hometown as 11-year-old Valentina Guzmán Murillo of Ensenada, a coastal city south of Tijuana, according to the New York Times. Her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, was 31, said the Times.
Valentina had a spinal condition that caused her medical issues, a family friend told the Times. A spokesperson for Shriners said her condition was not easily treated in Mexico.
The hospital celebrated Valentina with a send-off just hours before the plane crashed.
The crew members aboard the medical jet have been identified as four men who worked with the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance for years, according to the company. They were identified as:
Alan Montoya Perales, 46, had been flying with Jet Rescue since 2016, and was the captain of the flight that crashed Friday, company spokesman Shai Gold said. His copilot was Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43, who joined the company in December 2023, Gold said.
Raul Meza Arredonda, 41, the doctor aboard the flight had worked for Jet Rescue since 2020 and was chief of neonatology for XE Médica Ambulancias, the company wrote on X . Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41, was the paramedic on board — an employee since 2023.
How many were injured?
Parker said in a news conference Monday that the number of confirmed people on the ground who were injured has increased to 24. The two additional injuries to the total came from a Philadelphia police officer who was treated for smoke inhalation and released, and a firefighter who had a heart attack and is expected to recover, Parker spokesperson Joe Grace said.
Four people remained hospitalized, two in critical condition.
How big is the debris field?
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board said the debris field was four to five blocks and “is very dangerous.” City officials described it as exceeding six blocks.
Has the plane’s so-called black box been found?
NTSB investigators found the cockpit voice recorder Sunday at the point of initial contact, 8 feet down, the agency said. Investigators also found the plane’s enhanced ground proximity warning system, which could also contain flight data, the NTSB said. Both of the plane’s engines have also been recovered.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that information from the medical jet’s black box has yet to be recovered and analyzed, but hopes to have more answers on what caused the crash soon. He added that the plane had a voice recorder but not a data recorder, but investigators might be able to get some data off the device.
It was not immediately clear if the device was damaged during the crash, Parker said Monday. The black box was heading to Washington, D.C. Monday to be analyzed.
How long will cleanup of the area take?
Over the next several “days to weeks,” the NTSB said, debris will be collected and transported to a secure location.
How many residents were displaced?
City officials have not specified how many people were displaced or remain missing, saying the scene is still being processed. Shelter is being provided at Samuel Fels High School at 5500 Langdon St.
Managing Director Adam Thiel said 11 homes were damaged. A total of 343 residential properties in the area have been impacted by the crash, Grace said Monday.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said police were tracking potential missing persons reports and said anyone concerned about someone in the area who is missing should call 911.
What did air traffic controllers at Northeast Philadelphia Airport say?
“Medievac Medservice 056 Northeast Tower, are you on frequency?” an air traffic controller asked after the pilots of the jet did not respond, according to an audio recording. After a few seconds of radio silence, a pilot in another aircraft asked about the situation.
”We have a lost aircraft. We’re not exactly sure what happened, so we’re trying to figure it out,” the air traffic controller said moments later.
What did witnesses see?
Rachel Handis heard the boom, then her Northeast Philadelphia rowhouse shook as if an earthquake was happening.
“I thought it was gunshots,” said the 34-year-old. “I was so scared.”
As other neighbors ran toward the crash site on Friday night, Handis said her instinct was to stay inside and hide.
Huddled with her Dalmatian, Pongo, she called her parents — who live down the street — to make sure they were OK, she said, then downloaded the Citizen app to learn more about what was happening just a mile away.
Handis watched the live-streamed videos in horror and disbelief that such a tragedy could happen in the tight-knit neighborhood she has called home her whole life.
“I’m still shaken,” she said.
What roads in the crash area are closed?
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management has reported the following road closures:
Cottman Avenue between Bustleton and Brous Avenues
Saint Vincent Street between Bustleton and Castor Avenues
What is the status of Roosevelt Mall?
A spokesperson for Roosevelt Mall, which is owned by Brixmor Property Group, said it will remain closed through Monday at the request of authorities.
What about schools?
All Philadelphia schools operated on a normal schedule Monday. Anyone delayed by street closures or SEPTA changes prompted by the ongoing investigation was to be given an excused lateness.
Parents can also call or text 1-833-PHL-HOPE (tel:18337454673) for free support and information.
Is there an emergency shelter for anyone who is displaced by the crash and fire?
Shelter is being provided at Samuel Fels High School at 5500 Langdon St. It is open 24 hours and being operated by the Red Cross and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. Operators there can be reached by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.
Is mental-health help available?
Mental-health assistance can be accessed by calling 988 or going to www.dbhids.org.
How can I get more information on the crash and the cleanup process?
Philadelphia is planning a town hall for Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions.
What was the impact on SEPTA and utilities?
SEPTA has detoured seven routes: the Boulevard Direct Bus, and Routes 1, 14, 20, 50, 70 and 77.
SEPTA is advising riders to check real-time bus alerts online, on the SEPTA app, or through customer service at (215) 580-7800.
Peco and PGW reported Sunday that all service had been restored to the crash area, with the exception of “immediately impacted buildings,” meaning those that sustained fire or other damage.
How can the public help with the investigation?
The Philadelphia Police Department is asking for videos from Friday night’s plane crash. Contributors can send their videos or videos they see on social media to Thorsten.Lucke@Phila.gov.
Staff writers Ximena Conde, Erin McCarthy, Rob Tornoe, Frank Kummer, Harold Brubaker, Fallon Ruth, Michelle Myers, Kristen A. Graham, Melanie Burney, Nick Vadala, and Ellie Rushing contributed to this article.