Plane crash in Philadelphia neighborhood kills 7; several homes catch fire
Six passengers of a medical jet and one person on the ground were killed after the plane crashed in a Philadelphia neighborhood on Friday evening, officials said.
Hospitals in the city report at least 20 victims have been treated for injuries from the crash, which caused an explosion and set several homes ablaze near the Roosevelt Mall in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue.
The small plane, a Learjet 55, had just departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Springfield, Missouri, when it went down, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
How many people were killed in the Philadelphia plane crash?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed all six people aboard — all of whom were Mexican citizens — were killed.
"I mourn the passing of six Mexicans in the aviation accident in Philadelphia, United States. Consular authorities are in constant contact with the families; I've asked the Foreign Affairs Secretary to support whatever is needed. My solidarity with their loved ones and friends," she said in a statement written in Spanish.
In a news conference Saturday morning, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said one person in a car was killed on the ground. She warned that the total count of injuries may change as investigators continue working at the scene and tracking down who has been transported to hospitals.
The plane crashed into a neighborhood near the Roosevelt Mall just moments after leaving the airstrip at approximately 6:07 p.m. The first emergency calls went out about five minutes later, at 6:12 p.m.
The pediatric patient was a girl from Mexico who had received treatment at Shriners Children's Hospital Philadelphia, according to Mel Bower, a spokesperson for the hospital. Her treatment had ended and she was on her way home when the plane crashed.
Parker said the people aboard included the girl, her mother and four crew members.
The aircraft was operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, a Mexico-based company with divisions in Florida that specializes in flights to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
"It's extremely hard and extremely difficult, those that were involved directly in her care were very aware that she was going to be traveling home and there had actually been a sendoff for her today," Bower said.
He said the hospital community at Shriners was impacted very deeply by this and that their patients are their family. Bower said the care the hospital provides is not just in the clinical sphere but goes beyond to a personal level.
When asked if she enjoyed the end-of-treatment celebration earlier Friday, Bower said, "I'm certain that she did. Our staff – they work so hard at bringing joy and laughter and excitement into all parts of the clinical aspect. Our patients don't look at it as going to the hospital. They go to a place where they have fun and have enjoyment."
Bower said the two doctors on the plane were not affiliated with Shriners, but rather the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance.
Shriners Children's Hospital has provided unique medical care and hope to children for over 100 years, according to its website.
Local hospitals treated injured victims
Local hospitals tell CBS News Philadelphia they have treated more than 20 victims who were injured in the plane crash.
A Temple University Health spokesperson said six people were taken to Temple University Hospital's Jeanes Campus, about two miles from the crash scene. As of Saturday afternoon, five patients had been treated and released from Jeanes.
A sixth patient was transferred to Temple University Hospital, where they remain hospitalized in fair condition, the spokesperson said.
Jefferson Health provided care for 15 individuals – twelve have since been discharged; two have been admitted for further care and one patient was transferred to another unspecified hospital, a spokesperson said.
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children confirmed they were treating one pediatric patient.
The City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management has a list of resources for residents affected. In a social post, they said to Text RECOVERPHL to 888-777 to get the latest updates and information.
NTSB searching for cockpit voice recorder
Saturday evening, NTSB officials gave preliminary insight into what they've learned about the crash since Friday night. The medical jet departed from a base in Florida Friday at around 12 p.m. and arrived in Northeast Philadelphia around 2:15 p.m. The jet was on the ground for a few hours and then departed the runway to go to Springfield, Missouri, at around 6:06 p.m.
A GPS collected data that the jet climbed about 1,500 feet into the air before taking a slight right turn followed by a slight left turn before a steep descent where the plane crashed, officials said.
The entire flight was less than one minute.
Officials stressed they're still looking for the cockpit voice recorder and that it could be intact, but likely is damaged and could be fragmented.
Anyone who comes across debris is asked to not touch it, but to email witness@ntsb.gov.
The agency is identifying the crash as an accident.
Debris field covers 4 to 6 city blocks; other debris fell in "remote area"
Investigators are combing through a debris field that extends across four to six city blocks, Philadelphia's Managing Director Adam Thiel said in a news briefing on Saturday morning.
"We also have debris in a remote area where something happened with the aircraft, and that's something that well have to leave the NTSB to talk about, Thiel said.
It's also possible that debris from the plane fell in other areas.
"It's possible that if you are somewhere not even near here...between this location and Northeast Airport, you may go out and find something in your yard, something on your car," Thiel added. "Don't touch it, call 911. We need to know that."
Investigative teams were making another sweep of the neighborhood Saturday, going door-to-door and checking with residents of each home that may have been impacted. Inspectors from the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections will be onhand for homes in the area to have damage inspected, Thiel said.
That sweep is "so we can be sure that we don't have other hidden damage or structural damage, and it is possible that we will still find that," Thiel said.
PECO, the local energy company, said it shut off power for some customers in the area to ensure the safety of first responders on the scene. Residents were continuing to get their electricity back Saturday, PECO said.
President Trump, elected officials react after plane crash
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
"So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," President Trump said in a social media post. "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."
Philadelphia City Councilmember Mike Driscoll described the plane crash as an "active emergency response situation" with "reported mass casualties."
State Rep. Jared Solomon, who represents Northeast Philadelphia, said he saw hundreds of first responders working to help out the community in the face of danger.
"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 neighborhood. Northeast Philadelphia stands united in prayer for the families of the victims, and in gratitude for the brave firefighters and police officers who keep us safe," Solomon said.
Philadelphia mayor tells residents to stay out of the area
In a news conference Friday night, Parker said several homes and vehicles were impacted. Residents were cautioned to stay out of the area.
"We're urging you to please stay away from the scene. If you see debris, call 911. Don't touch anything. This is still an active scene under investigation," Parker said.
Saturday morning, the scene was full of investigators from the FAA, NTSB, Pennsylvania State Police and other agencies.
"We're just asking for prayers for any and everyone who may have been affected," Parker added.
Multiple rowhomes on fire, plane parts hit cars
Multiple homes caught fire in the area of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard following the crash, fire officials said. The area of the crash is a densely populated residential neighborhood packed with rows of rowhomes.
Police sources told CBS News Philadelphia's Chief Investigative Reporter Joe Holden that parts of the plane hit cars in the area. Some businesses near the Roosevelt Mall were also on fire, sources said.
Doorbell camera video from one home in the area captured the moment the jet crashed.
Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management shared a photo of the scene in Northeast Philadelphia. Officials said roads are closed in the area including parts of Roosevelt Boulevard. Residents and motorists are asked to avoid the area as several authorities respond.
Philadelphia OEM said drivers should expect the extended closure of Cottman Avenue between Roosevelt Boulevard and Bustleton Avenue and the outer southbound lanes of Roosevelt Boulevard as they continue to respond to the scene.
Neighbors felt their homes shake
Neighbors in the area reported that their homes shook when the plane went down.
"I saw blinking lights coming from the sky. And I just saw them going down," said a 10-year-old boy on his way home from hockey practice. "It was really scary."
Jimmy Weis was driving in the area when the plane went down.
"I just was driving and I saw a lot of police activity and then people texting me. I was close here and that there was a plane crash," Weis said. "And my daughter who GPS'd me, freaked, called me and was making sure that I was OK."
A man who lives nearby said he was inside his house talking to his brother when the plane crashed.
"I don't want to say it was like an earthquake, but it was like someone knocking on the door really hard," he said.
He said that was the moment when he and his brother ran out of their house to see what he described as chaotic as neighbors ran towards the crash.
Red Cross Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia opened a shelter for anyone needing housing or support at Samuel Fels High School located at 5500 Langdon Street. This shelter will close at 8 p.m. on Feb. 4 as residents transition to other housing solutions, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania said in a release on Tuesday.
Resources from the Red Cross will be available on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1401 Rhawn Street in Northeast Philadelphia. There will also be resources available Wednesday evening at the Northeast Emergency Community Impact Town Hall at S. Solis-Cohen Elementary School located at 7001 Horrocks Street. The Red Cross said the event starts at 7 p.m.
"The mayor preaches about 'one Philly,'" Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a news briefing alongside Parker Friday. "She talks about a unified approach to governing every day. What you're seeing here is a unified response to an awful aviation disaster. For as awful as that aviation disaster was, tonight we also saw the best of Philly. We saw neighbor helping neighbor. We saw Pennsylvanians looking out for one another."
"We know that there will be loss in this region and we want to offer our thoughts and our serious prayers for those who are grieving at this moment," Shapiro said.
Northeast Philadelphia Airport back open
The Northeast Philadelphia Airport was temporarily closed after the crash occurred. The airport has since reopened, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Aviation said.
