A small medical transport plane crashed into several buildings in northeast Philadelphia on Friday evening, igniting homes and vehicles and injuring multiple people on the ground.

The jet was on a medical transport mission carrying four crew members, a child patient, and the patient’s escort, according to Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the medical aircraft company operating the flight.

Officials Confirm Losses in “Awful Aviation Disaster”

“We know that there will be loss,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated during a news conference at the crash site, describing the event as an “awful aviation disaster.”

Emergency responders rushed to the scene as residents gathered around streets strewn with fiery debris and wreckage from the aircraft. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes of burning structures and injured individuals.

Child Patient Was Returning to Mexico for Treatment

Shai Gold, a spokesman for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, confirmed to NBC that the child aboard the plane was receiving medical care in the U.S. for a life-threatening condition and was on the way back to Tijuana, Mexico. The child was accompanied by her mother, a pilot, a copilot, a doctor, and a paramedic.

Mr. Gold also noted that the child’s treatment had been sponsored by a third-party charity.

“She fought quite a lot to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy happened on the way home,” he said.

Mexican Consulate Issues Alert for Affected Nationals

The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia released a notice on X, urging any Mexican nationals affected by the crash to contact their emergency helpline for assistance.

Philadelphia Mayor Urges Caution and Prayer

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stated that officials have not yet determined the number of fatalities but urged residents to pray for those affected.

“If you see debris, call 911. Don’t touch anything,” she warned.

Crash Occurred Near Roosevelt Mall in a Densely Populated Area

The crash happened just a few blocks from Roosevelt Mall, a three-story shopping center in a highly populated section of Philadelphia, the fifth-largest city in the United States. The impacted area consists of terraced housing and commercial establishments.

Videos shared online show the plane descending rapidly before erupting into a massive fireball. Witnesses described shrapnel damaging vehicles and sending burning wreckage onto the streets. Photographs of the aftermath depict charred cars and smoldering debris.

One eyewitness, who spoke to CBS, recounted hearing a “whirring sound” followed by a loud explosion.

“Everyone just started screaming,” he said.

Another witness told WPVI-TV that the explosion “lit up the whole sky.”

“I just saw a plane basically hit the building, and it exploded. The sky lit up, and I pulled over. It was real bad around here,” they added, describing the impact as resembling an earthquake.

Ryan Tian, 23, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was getting dinner when he witnessed a “massive fireball” turning the sky orange.

“I thought we were getting attacked by something,” he said. “As soon as I saw people running, I decided to get outta there.”

What We Know About the Crash

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft was a Learjet 55 that took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at approximately 6:30 PM local time. It crashed less than four miles (6.4 km) from the airport.

The FAA initially reported two people on board but later revised the count to six. The plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri.

Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicates the aircraft was operated by Med Jets and had arrived in Philadelphia from Florida less than four hours before the crash.

Investigation Underway

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the crash.

In a statement, former President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy, saying his administration was “totally engaged.”

“So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost,” he stated.

Recent Aviation Incidents Raise Concerns

This crash comes just two days after a catastrophic collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C. That incident, suspected to have claimed all 67 lives on board both aircraft, was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. in over 20 years.

As investigations into both crashes continue, aviation safety officials are working to determine the causes and prevent future tragedies.