(Rightallegiance.com) – Philadelphia is mourning a devastating aviation disaster after a medical jet crashed into a residential neighborhood Friday evening, claiming the lives of all six people on board and one person on the ground. The crash, described by officials as “high-impact,” left a scene of destruction spanning multiple city blocks.
This NEW footage of the PHILLY PLANE CRASH is by far the most horrific to watch
— Culture War (@CultureWar2020) February 1, 2025
WOWOWOWOW looks more like a missile crashing to earth 😲😲😲
It's even hard to see the wings#Planecrash #philadelphiacrash pic.twitter.com/VGZGiNrF4t
Authorities have now identified the victims aboard the ill-fated Learjet 55. The pilot, Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, and co-pilot, Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, were operating the aircraft when it went down. Also on board were paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla and Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, who were accompanying a pediatric patient, Valentina Guzman Murillo, along with her mother, Lizaeth Murillo Osuna.
Valentina, a young child, had traveled to Philadelphia for medical treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital. The aircraft was en route back to Mexico, with its intended destination being Tijuana.
Additional Casualties and Injuries
Beyond the six lives lost on the jet, a person inside a car on the ground also perished in the crash. Officials have not yet released that individual’s identity.
The catastrophe left at least 22 others injured. During a press briefing on Sunday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that five of the injured remain hospitalized, with three in critical condition.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel stated that law enforcement continues to investigate reports of missing individuals. “We are tracking that specifically, any and all reports coming in,” he said, explaining that identifying missing persons in such cases involves linking reports from various sources. “We are methodically going through that information to support us in the investigation.”
Despite the extensive damage, Mayor Parker reassured residents that there would be no public school closures on Monday.
Moments Before Impact
The doomed jet took off at 6:06 p.m. and was airborne for less than a minute before it plummeted near Roosevelt Mall. The aircraft initially climbed to approximately 1,500 feet before descending rapidly, resulting in what investigators described as an intense, fiery impact.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Bill Hicks revealed that there were no distress calls from the flight crew before the crash. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed that air traffic controllers attempted to make contact with the pilots but received no response.
“In fact, in the recording that we have, there is an attempt by air traffic controllers to get a response from the flight crew that they didn’t receive,” Homendy explained.
Authorities have officially classified the incident as an accident.
Widespread Destruction and Ongoing Investigation
The crash’s impact left a significant trail of devastation, with wreckage scattered across four to five city blocks. At least five homes caught fire as a result of the explosion, and debris remains strewn throughout the neighborhood.
One major concern for investigators is the aircraft’s black box, which has not yet been recovered. Homendy stated that while the flight recorder may still be intact, it is more likely to have suffered significant damage. “It could be intact,” she said. “But likely, it is damaged. It may be fragmented.”
Residents were advised to report any airplane debris they find by calling 911, as the recovery process continues. Investigators expect to spend several days, possibly weeks, collecting wreckage and analyzing evidence.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also involved in the investigation, working alongside the NTSB to determine what led to the catastrophic crash.
Aviation Community Reeling from Back-to-Back Disasters
This deadly incident occurred just two days after another major aviation tragedy—a collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional American Airlines jet near Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C. That collision resulted in 67 fatalities.
Despite the immense workload, Homendy assured the public that the NTSB is capable of handling both investigations simultaneously. “We are a highly skilled agency,” she said. “It’s not unusual for the board to investigate two incidents at once.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the difficult week for the aviation community, calling it a “heart-wrenching week” in a statement on social media platform X.
Regarding the Philadelphia crash, Duffy cautioned that answers would take time. “We’re not going to have answers right away,” he said. “But as I get those answers, I’m going to share them with all of you.”
As the investigation unfolds, Philadelphia and the victims’ loved ones are left grappling with the tragedy, waiting for answers that could shed light on what caused the deadly crash.