A small medical transport plane crashed into multiple buildings in northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, killing all six people on board and injuring several people on the ground.
The aircraft, which was on a medical transport mission, carried a child patient, her mother, and four crew members. According to flight logs, the plane was in the air for only about a minute before crashing, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed.
Videos circulating online show the aircraft descending rapidly before erupting into a massive fireball upon impact. Witnesses reported shrapnel and burning debris scattering into the streets, damaging cars and buildings in the densely populated area.
“All six people on board were Mexican nationals,” Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on social media platform X. The flight was en route to Springfield, Missouri, but crashed just four miles (6.4 km) from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
The first emergency calls were made at approximately 6:12 p.m. local time. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of those injured on the ground. However, Temple University Hospital-Jeanes has treated six individuals affected by the crash. Three were treated and released, while the condition of the remaining three remains unclear.
State Representative Jared Solomon praised the swift response of emergency personnel. “In a time of profound tragedy, I was inspired to witness hundreds of our first responders sprinting towards danger to ensure the safety of our neighbourhood,” he said in a statement.
The crash site is located just blocks from Roosevelt Mall, a busy shopping centre surrounded by residential homes and commercial establishments. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash while emergency crews work to assess the full extent of the damage.