Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said the exact number of people who were killed was not immediately known. Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said a child patient and five other people were on the plane when it plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff around p.
The patient and an escort were on board, along with four crew members. Jet Rescue Air Ambulance later said the child and escort were Mexican nationals, noting they were in the U. They were going to Springfield for a fueling spot, with Tijuana as the final destination.
Shai Gold, a Jet Rescue Air Ambulance spokesperson told the Associated Press the patient and her mother were on board along with four crew members. Gold said this was a seasoned crew and that everyone involved in these flights goes through rigorous training. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he is offering all "Commonwealth resources as they respond to the small private plane crash in Northeast Philly. In a press conference just before 10 p. EST, Shapiro called the incident an "awful aviation disaster.
Mayor Parker noted that a shelter is available at an area high school for those impacted by the crash. The mayor said the plane "went down" near the Roosevelt Mall, with the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management describing it as a "major incident.
Bystanders were coughing due to the smoke, with one man expressing confusion and horror about what happened. I'm still in shock. Like, this is insane," a witness told WPVI. President Donald Trump posted about the crash on Truth Social, writing, "So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates air crashes, said it was gathering information about the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately have details on the crash.
