A serious air accident occurred on Friday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A small plane crashed near the Roosevelt Mall, at the intersection of Cottman and Bustleton Avenues.
Fire and Evacuations After the Explosion
URGENT: Another air accident has just occurred in Philadelphia, USA. 😨😨😨😨https://t.co/gfvrLuIZIx
— Reacción Nacional (@RNacional_News) January 31, 2025
The images shared on social media show that the impact caused a large explosion, which then ignited several nearby houses. Due to the emergency, the city’s emergency management office urged people to avoid the area, as several streets, including parts of the Roosevelt Boulevard, were closed to traffic.
The Aircraft Was an Air Ambulance
🇺🇸The fallen air ambulance had 1 pilot, 1 co-pilot, 2 doctors, a patient, and their family member onboard. This is the exact moment the plane crashed near the Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/BxgKvyB8wG
— David Ordaz (@david_ordaz) February 1, 2025
The Philadelphia Police confirmed that the crashed aircraft was an air ambulance, which was carrying six people. It was also reported that several people on the ground were injured.
Authorities Confirm Fatalities
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the Mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker, confirmed that all passengers aboard the plane died, along with one person on the ground at the time of the impact.
The Company Behind the Plane Provides Details
The company Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, based in Mexico and licensed to operate in the United States, explained that the plane was carrying four crew members, the pediatric patient, and the patient’s mother.
Victim on the Ground and Injuries from the Accident
According to Mayor Cherelle Parker, the person who died on the ground was inside a car in the accident zone. She also reported that 19 people were injured due to the crash.
Mexico Offers Support to Victim Families
The Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed her condolences for the death of the six Mexican citizens. In a post on the social media platform X, she stated that she had instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide support to the affected families.
“I regret the death of six Mexicans in the air accident in Philadelphia, USA. Consular authorities are in permanent contact with the families; I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide all necessary assistance. My solidarity with their loved ones and friends”, Sheinbaum wrote.
The Girl Was Returning Home to Tijuana
An employee of Jet Rescue Air Ambulance confirmed that the pediatric patient was a girl heading to Tijuana, her final destination. The child had been receiving medical treatment at a well-known U.S. hospital before boarding the plane.
Another Air Disaster in the U.S.
This accident occurred only two days after another air tragedy in the United States. A passenger plane and a military helicopter collided near the Reagan National Airport in Washington, leaving a toll of 67 dead.
In that incident, there were 64 people aboard the plane (60 passengers and 4 crew members), while the helicopter carried three soldiers.
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