Destruction as executive jet crashes in Philadelphia, sparking blazes

The crash in the east coast US city comes just two days after the deadly Washington air crash that killed 67 people. The victims are said to be all Mexican nationals.

Dozens of first responders were on the scene to attend blazes caused by the crash on the ground outside the Roosevelt open-air mall. Picture: X

A small jet with six people, said to be Mexican nationals, onboard crashed into a busy Philadelphia suburb Friday, officials said, showering wreckage over a wide areas and sparking blazes that caused extensive damage to homes and vehicles.

The six people on board a small medical service jet, with no indication of survivors, were all Mexican nationals, the country’s foreign ministry said.

“The airline company... confirmed to the consulate that six people of Mexican nationality were travelling on the aircraft,” the ministry posted on social media platform X.

The plane was bound for Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, and had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, the FAA said in a statement confirming that it would investigate along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Video footage appeared to show the twin-engine plane descending at a sharp angle towards a residential area, sparking a huge fireball upon impact and showering wreckage over homes and vehicles.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft was a Learjet 55 – an American-French business jet – that had taken off shortly before from Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Branson, Missouri.

The crash happened just after 6pm local time on Friday.

A young girl who had been in the United States for medical care, her mother, and members of the flight and medical crews accompanying her onboard were killed in the crash, the children’s hospital that treated her told AFP.

“The patient had received care from Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was being transported back to her home country in Mexico on a contracted air ambulance when the crash happened,” said Mel Bower, a spokesman for Shriners Children’s.

The aircraft’s operator Jet Rescue Air Ambulance confirmed in a statement to US media that there were two passengers and four crew, adding, “At this time, we cannot confirm any survivors.”

Dozens of emergency workers were on the scene outside Roosevelt Mall, a strip mall in Northeast Philadelphia with retailers and food outlets.

US President Donald Trump on Friday took to his Truth Social platform and said he was “sad” to see “more souls lost” in the Philadelphia tragedy. He praised first responders, adding: “God Bless you all.”

Several witnesses told local TV crews that they saw body parts in or near the wreckage, as Philadelphia City Council member Mike Driscoll said he feared residents or others on the ground may have been killed.

“It doesn’t look good. And it’s a sad situation here,” he told CNN. The FAA said it was launching an investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who the mayor said was heading to the crash site, said he was “offering all resources as (emergency services) respond to the small private plane crash.”

“We’ll continue to provide updates as more information is available.”

The crash in the city on the US East Coast came just two days after a passenger jet and military helicopter collided off Washington’s Reagan National Airport, killing 67 people in the deadliest US air disaster in almost a quarter century.

Investigators on Thursday found the helicopter’s black box after having already retrieved the cockpit voice and flight data recorder from the Bombardier jet operated by an American Airlines subsidiary.

Forty-one victims have been pulled from the frigid Potomac River, and rescuers voiced confidence the other 26 would be retrieved in the operation to recover the passenger jet.

“The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates,” the FAA said referring to the Philadelphia incident.