Plane with 6 aboard crashes near Philadelphia mall; casualties feared!
A medical transport jet with six people aboard, including a child patient, crashed near a shopping mall in Philadelphia on Friday. The crash triggered a massive fire that engulfed several homes in the area.
US President Donald Trump expressed his grief, calling the crash “sad” and lamenting the loss of “more innocent souls.” He posted on Truth Social, “Our people are totally engaged,” acknowledging the ongoing response.
The jet, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, could not confirm any survivors. The company’s statement focused on the victims’ families and those impacted on the ground. “We cannot confirm any survivors,” the company said.
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management confirmed the crash as a “major incident.” They warned residents to avoid the area near Cottman and Bustleton Avenues, as roads were closed.
Visuals from the scene showed the jet crashed near a row of houses. Emergency responders, including firefighters, rushed to the scene. Flight data revealed the jet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 pm and disappeared from radar about 30 seconds later, after climbing to 1,600 feet.
The crash occurred roughly 4.8 kilometers from the airport, which mainly serves business jets and charter flights. A local resident described hearing a loud bang and feeling his house shake. “There was a large explosion. I thought we were under attack for a second,” he said.
This crash follows another deadly incident earlier this week near Washington, DC. A passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. All 64 people on board the jet and three on the helicopter died. It marked the deadliest US air disaster in over two decades.
The collision raised concerns about airspace management, especially in congested areas near major airports. Despite modern collision-avoidance technology on passenger planes, the incident highlights ongoing safety challenges in busy air corridors.
As Philadelphia recovers from the tragic crash, officials continue to investigate the cause and assess the full extent of the damage.
