A small plane crashed in Northeast Philadelphia early Friday night in the area of the Roosevelt Mall near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, according to police and emergency responders. Authorities say the aircraft, a Learjet, was a medical plane that departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport shortly after 6 p.m. with six people on board.
LATEST: 7 people dead, at least 19 injured in medical jet crash in Northeast Philadelphia
Among the passengers on board were girl and her mother, who were returning home to Mexico. They had been here for the girl to receive medical treatment at a Philadelphia hospital. There were people on the ground injured and transported to at least two hospitals in the Northeast – Jefferson Torresdale and Temple University Hospital Jeane Campus. At least some people taken to Temple Hospital have since been discharged. The total number of people hurt by the crash had not been released by early Saturday morning.
Emergency responders and city, state and federal investigators arrived at the scene Friday evening and worked through the night into Saturday. Updates are provided below as information becomes available:
11:04 p.m.: Shriners Children's Hospital in North Philadelphia said the pediatric patient on board the medical jet that crashed had received care there and was returning home to Mexico with her mother, 6ABC reported. The hospital declined to provide more details due to patient privacy.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the medical crew and pilots who were also lost in this tragic event – as well as all of the people who were affected on the ground – and we're thankful to the first responders for their quick action," the hospital said in a statement.
10:11 p.m.: Gov. Josh Shapiro arrived at the scene of the jet crash in Northeast Philly and said city, state and federal officials are working together in the aftermath of Friday night's "awful aviation disaster."
"Tonight we also saw the best of Philly," Shapiro said. "We saw neighbors helping neighbors. We saw Pennsylvanians helping one another."
In addition to Philadelphia's emergency responders, he said 45 Pennsylvania State Troopers and personnel from PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency are on site near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, along with responders from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to "ensure any hazardous materials are addressed."
Additionally, members of the National Transportation Safety Board are enroute.
"We have all the resources we need," Shapiro said.
The Red Cross is helping residents who have been displaced by the crash, and they can get shelter at Samuel Fels High School, at 5500 Langdon St.
Daniella Heminghaus/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, left, addresses the press alongside Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro near the scene of the Learjet crash on the 7200 block of Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
9:26 p.m.: President Donald Trump issued a statement on Truth Social: "So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all."
9:20 p.m.: The plane that crashed Friday night in Northeast Philadelphia was a medical transport jet that had six patients on board, including a child who was a patient, the Associated Press reported. The child was on board the plane with a parent, two doctors and two pilots. No other details about the passengers were immediately available.
"We cannot confirm any survivors," Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a medical transport company involved in the flight, said in a statement. "Our immediate concern is for the patient's family, our personnel, their families and other victims that may have been hurt on the ground."
The FAA confirmed there were six people on board the flight, updating the federal agency's initial report that only two passengers were on the jet.
Jet Air Rescue Ambulance provides international critical care ambulance services from Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean to the United States. The company is insured in the U.S. and Mexico, and its services include transports for adult, pediatric, neonatal and EMS special care.On its website, the company says its fleet includes 10 medical jets and one helicopter. It operates various types of Learjets, including two Learjet 55 aircraft. The company's services are typically used when ground ambulance and commercial flights are not equipped to provide critical care to patients during transport.
8:54 p.m.: Mayor Cherelle Parker said during a Friday evening news conference that there were no reports on the number of fatalities, but "several dwellings and vehicles were impacted." She urged people to stay away from the area, saying it's an active scene under investigation.
The mayor also said Gov. Josh Shapiro was in transit to the crash site, and there will be additional briefings by officials on Friday night.
Daniella Heminghaus/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A fire truck on the scene of Friday nights plane crash in Northeast Philly.
8:36 p.m..: Officials have not yet confirmed the number of people on board the plane. The FAA initially reported two people were on the jet. Later, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn in earlier this week, posted on X that six people were on board.
There also was no immediate word on the number of people on the ground who were injured in the blast and fires created by the crash.
8:25 p.m.: The Learjet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 p.m. Friday headed to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The plane crashed 30 seconds after take off, less than 3 miles from the airport, the Associated Press reported, adding that photos taken at the scene showed residential homes on fire.
The plane had reached an altitude of about 1,600 feet before it crashed.
Daniella Heminghaus/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Firefighters respond to the scene of Friday night's Learjet crash in Northeast Philadelphia.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he's been in contact with city officials and has offered state resources to assist in the response to the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane that crashed was a Learjet 55, a type of business jet that can carry up to eight passengers. The aircraft can reach speeds up to 527 mph and is commonly used for private transport. The FAA said the plane had departed en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The crash investigation will be handled by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management said police and the fire department are at the scene. Roads in the vicinity of the crash have been closed, including part of Roosevelt Boulevard, and people are advised to avoid the area, officials said.
Major incident near Cottman and Bustelton Avenues in Northeast Philadelphia across from Roosevelt Mall. Roads closed in area including parts of Roosevelt Boulevard. Avoid area. @PhillyFireDept @PhillyPolice pic.twitter.com/6OSNNs4eCD
— Philadelphia OEM (@PhilaOEM) January 31, 2025
Details about the crash were not immediately available. Videos circulating on social media show a large, fiery explosion that occurred shortly after 6 p.m. 6ABC and other news outlets have reported multiple casualties in the incident.
Doorbell cam captures clear video of the Northeast Philly plane crash and residents' terrified reactions. Follow live updates: https://t.co/jpQ6BRuG6U pic.twitter.com/SsbitHzvLD
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) February 1, 2025
Wild video shows mass chaos and mass panic after the Northeast Philly plane crash: https://t.co/0qTx8lLcSP pic.twitter.com/pQTeII53HH
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) February 1, 2025
PhillyVoice staff Jeff Tomik, John Kopp and Jon Tuleya contributed to this report
