Philadelphia Crash Aircraft Was a Medical Transport Plane with 6 Onboard, Including a Child Patient (Summary)

Crashed in a Densely Built Commercial Area... Multiple Casualties Expected
Trump: "Innocent souls were lost... It is very sad"

On the 31st (local time), a small aircraft carrying six people crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News

On the 31st (local time), a small aircraft carrying six people crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The aircraft fell in a densely built commercial area, and multiple casualties are expected.

According to foreign media including the AP News, the small civilian aircraft equipped with two engines for patient transport took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at around 6:06 PM and climbed to an altitude of 487 meters before disappearing from radar and crashing near a shopping mall in the densely built northeastern commercial district of Philadelphia.

It is reported that six people were on board the aircraft. The operator of the aircraft, Jet Rescue, stated in a press release that there was one child patient, one other passenger, and four crew members on board, adding, "We cannot confirm any survivors."

Immediately after the crash, a massive flame burst into the air and the screams of nearby people were captured in a video released by CNN. Subsequently, fires broke out in nearby houses and vehicles.

The crash site is understood to be less than 3 miles (about 4.8 km) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which is mainly used by charter and business aircraft. The accident area and surrounding roads are currently blocked off.

Local media reported multiple casualties on the ground, but the official number of deaths or injuries has not yet been announced. Philadelphia Mayor Sherrie Parker said at a press conference held around 9:50 PM, "We have not yet received reports on the number of casualties," adding, "Several houses and vehicles were affected."

The aircraft model is a Learjet 55, which typically seats two in the cockpit plus up to 10 passengers, and it was reportedly heading to Springfield, Missouri.

Facing two major aviation accidents within about ten days of taking office, President Donald Trump expressed on social media that "many innocent souls were lost" and said, "It is very sad."

Meanwhile, on the 29th of last month, near Ronald Reagan Airport close to Washington DC, USA, a passenger plane and a military helicopter collided and crashed, resulting in a total of 67 deaths.