Two days after a midair collision involving a passenger plane and a military helicopter, another devastating aviation incident occurred in the United States. A twin-engine air ambulance jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia on Friday night, resulting in a massive explosion, according to authorities cited by CNN.
FAA Confirms Crash of the Air Ambulance
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the aircraft, a Learjet 55 operated by air ambulance company Jet Rescue, went down around 6:30 p.m. ET shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The jet had been en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri with six individuals on board.
Air traffic control radio communications identified the aircraft as a medevac flight. Data from ADS-B Exchange indicated that the jet had climbed to 1,650 feet before plummeting at a descent rate of 11,000 feet per minute, as reported by CNN.
Failed Communication and Sudden Descent
Audio obtained from LiveATC.net captured an air traffic controller repeatedly attempting to contact the aircraft. The controller was heard calling out to the flight, asking if they were on frequency. Shortly after, another transmission confirmed that the aircraft had been lost.
Jet Rescue confirmed that the flight was carrying a pediatric patient, their escort, and four crew members. The company stated that they were unable to confirm any survivors at the time.
Impact on the Ground and Emergency Response
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker noted that multiple homes and vehicles had been affected but did not specify casualty numbers. CNN reported that several individuals on the ground had sustained injuries. It was emphasized that no names would be released until families had been notified. The company also expressed its immediate concern for the patient’s family, crew members, and any affected individuals on the ground.
Images from the air ambulance crash site showed the aircraft with a Mexican-registered tail number and the “Jet Rescue” logo on its fuselage. Footage from CNN affiliate WPVI displayed flames and thick smoke as emergency teams responded. The Philadelphia Fire Department later confirmed that the blaze had been brought under control.
State and Federal Officials Respond
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro reported that he had spoken with Mayor Parker and was deploying state resources for emergency response. Federal officials, including Senator John Fetterman and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, were briefed on the situation. Duffy confirmed that President Donald Trump had been informed of the crash.
A Week of Tragic Aviation Incidents
This latest tragedy follows another deadly aviation accident earlier in the week. On Wednesday, an American Airlines regional jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, approximately 150 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The jet, which had been carrying 64 passengers from Wichita, Kansas, along with the helicopter’s three crew members, were all presumed dead. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding both crashes as the nation mourns the losses.
