VIDEO: Six Mexican nationals perish in plane accident in Philadelphia

A tragic aviation accident unfolded in northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening when a small medical transport plane crashed into multiple buildings, claiming the lives of all six individuals on board and injuring several people on the ground.

The aircraft was on a medical mission, carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members. According to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, flight records indicate that the plane was airborne for only a minute before the fatal crash.

Videos circulating online captured the harrowing moment when the aircraft plummeted and erupted into a massive fireball. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all six people on board were Mexican nationals. The plane was en route to Springfield, Missouri.

“In parking lots, on streets, and inside cars and homes, multiple people sustained injuries,” Mayor Parker stated, though an official count of the wounded has yet to be released. Temple University Hospital-Jeanes confirmed treating six individuals who were injured on the ground, three of whom were later discharged. The condition of the remaining three is currently unknown.

The aircraft took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at approximately 6:07 P.M. local time but crashed less than four miles away. Emergency dispatchers received the first calls about the incident at around 6:12 P.M., according to CBS News.

State Representative Jared Solomon praised the swift response of emergency crews, stating, “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.”

Eyewitnesses reported seeing shrapnel and burning debris scattered across the streets, with vehicles sustaining significant damage. Photographs from the scene depict charred remains of cars and structures. The crash occurred in a densely populated area near Roosevelt Mall, a three-story shopping center surrounded by residential and commercial buildings.

Fire officials confirmed that multiple homes in the vicinity of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard caught fire as a result of the crash. A local resident described hearing a loud whirring sound followed by an explosion. “Everyone just started screaming,” he recalled. Another witness, speaking to WPVI-TV, described how the explosion “lit up the whole sky” and likened the impact to an earthquake.

Ryan Tian, 23, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was out getting dinner when he saw an enormous fireball. “I thought we were getting attacked by something,” he said.

The young girl on board, a patient from Tijuana, Mexico, had been receiving care at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia. Hospital spokesperson Mel Bower said she was discharged earlier that day and was heading home. Staff at the hospital had even held a farewell gathering for her before departure. Bower also confirmed that two doctors on the flight were affiliated with Jet Air Rescue Air Ambulance.

The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia is in contact with the families of those who perished. Meanwhile, Mayor Parker urged residents to avoid handling any debris from the wreckage, advising, “If you see debris, call 911, don’t touch anything.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the event as a “devastating aviation disaster” during a press briefing at the crash site.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now examining the cause of the crash. Flight data from FlightAware indicates that the aircraft was operated by Med Jets and had landed in Philadelphia from Florida less than four hours before the accident.

The tragedy comes just days after another catastrophic aviation incident in Washington, D.C., where a commercial airliner and a military helicopter collided midair, resulting in what officials believe to be the deadliest plane crash in the US in over two decades.