Medical Transport Jet Crashes in Philadelphia

A Learjet 55 medical transport plane operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance crashed shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport on January 31, 2025, killing all six people on board, including a pediatric patient and her mother. The jet, en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, exploded on impact near Roosevelt Mall, igniting multiple homes and vehicles. Eyewitnesses described a massive fireball and widespread destruction in the densely populated neighborhood. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to manage the fires and assist those injured on the ground, with six individuals hospitalized. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an investigation into the crash's cause, with initial reports indicating the plane lost contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff. This tragedy follows another deadly aviation incident involving a collision between an American Airlines jet and a US Army helicopter over Washington, DC, earlier in the week.