The aircraft, a Learjet 55, was registered in Mexico and operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which provides global medical transport services. The jet took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 p.m. but disappeared from radar shortly after reaching an altitude of 1,600 feet.
Philadelphia plane crash, medical jet crash, Learjet 55 accident, Philadelphia fire, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, NTSB investigation, aircraft explosion, Roosevelt Mall crash, emergency response, aviation disaster
Witnesses described a loud roar, followed by a massive explosion, with one resident saying it felt like an earthquake and another comparing it to a missile strike. Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, battling fires and securing the crash site as stunned onlookers tried to grasp the scale of the devastation.
The incident occurred just two days after a mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., which resulted in the deadliest U.S. air disaster in decades. Jet Rescue stated that its flight crews undergo rigorous training, and no expense is spared in aircraft maintenance due to the critical nature of their missions.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The cause of the crash remains unknown, and investigators will examine all possible factors, including mechanical failure, weather conditions, and pilot error.
