A Learjet 55 executive aircraft crashed in a densely-populated area of northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, sparking fires in the built-up neighbourhood near Roosevelt Mall. The incident occurred around 11:30 PM GMT. The medical transport aircraft had departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport bound for Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. The small air ambulance then crashed near Cottman and Bustleton Avenue. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about this particular tragic incident.
Small Air Ambulance Plane Crashes In Philadelphia
According to an article that was recently published by NDTV, conflicting reports emerged about the number of people aboard the aircraft. Whilst the Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA stated there were two occupants, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated there might have been six people on the plane.
The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed. The crash site was situated in a bustling commercial district with homes, shops and major thoroughfares. The crash prompted an immediate response from emergency services.
Dozens of first responders rushed to the scene, and local authorities closed surrounding roads, including parts of Roosevelt Boulevard. The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management declared it a “major incident” and urged the public to avoid the area.
More Details About The Learjet 55 That Crashed
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro pledged full support, stating that all available resources would be deployed to assist emergency services in their response. The FAA announced it would investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crash occurred just 48 hours after a devastating collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport, which claimed 67 lives in what was America’s deadliest aviation disaster in almost 25 years.
According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, the ill-fated Learjet was being used for medical patient transportation. Local police and fire departments have yet to provide official comments on the incident, as emergency operations continue in the affected area.
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Cover Image Credits: @fh_operador and @Callmechinas/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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