A medevac airplane crashed quickly after takeoff in Philadelphia on Friday with a baby and 5 others on board, the air ambulance firm that operated it mentioned, including that it had not confirmed any survivors.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, based mostly in Mexico and licensed to function within the US, mentioned its plane crashed with 4 crew members, one pediatric medical affected person and the affected person’s mom on board.
“Presently we can not verify any survivors,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement.
State and native officers mentioned late on Friday they may not but verify how many individuals could have died on the bottom after the airplane slammed right into a closely populated portion of the town. Movies taken by witnesses of the crash clearly confirmed physique components strewn concerning the streets and inside close by houses.
The Mexican authorities mentioned all these on the airplane have been Mexican nationals, CNN reported.
The kid was a lady on her approach dwelling with a remaining vacation spot of Tijuana, Shai Gold, who works on company technique with Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, informed CNN. Her mom was additionally aboard, he mentioned.
“We’re terribly shocked by this tragic flip of occasions,” Gold mentioned. “This was a really seasoned crew. We’re a number one air ambulance firm, we fly 600 to 700 occasions a 12 months.”
He mentioned the corporate had invested closely in sustaining its plane to the very best worldwide requirements and that the airplane that crashed had been in glorious flying situation.
“We actually don’t know what occurred,” Gold mentioned.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro informed a press convention on the crash scene that “we all know there might be loss on this area.”
“We need to provide our ideas and our critical prayers for these which can be grieving at this second,” Shapiro mentioned.
President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it was “so unhappy to see the airplane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Extra harmless souls misplaced. Our individuals are completely engaged. First Responders are already being given credit score for doing a terrific job.”
The crash follows this week’s collision of an American Airways jet and a US Military Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., which killed 67 within the deadliest airplane crash within the US since 2009.
The Federal Aviation Administration mentioned six individuals have been on the Learjet 55 that crashed round 6:30 p.m. (0030 GMT) on Friday. Native media reported it was close to the Roosevelt Mall in northeast Philadelphia and that there have been a number of accidents on the bottom.
Video aired on native TV stations confirmed the airplane in a pointy dive earlier than hitting the bottom and exploding in a large fireball.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker informed a press convention on the scene that a number of homes and vehicles had been engulfed in flames. She mentioned the state of affairs is “all palms on deck, that’s the place we’re proper now.”
Officers mentioned it was not clear what led to the crash. The climate was chilly and wet and with low visibility when the airplane went down.
The air ambulance had left Northeast Philadelphia Airport and was headed to Springfield-Branson Nationwide Airport in Missouri, about 1,100 miles (1,800 km) to the southwest, the FAA mentioned in an announcement.
A big fireplace and several other fireplace vans have been seen on the crash scene in photographs broadcast by the Philadelphia CBS affiliate. About two hours after the crash the fires have been largely out, in line with TV photographs.
The Philadelphia police and fireplace departments didn’t reply to requests for remark.
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