On January 31, 2025, a tragic air ambulance crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, resulting in the deaths of all six people aboard. The aircraft, a Learjet 55 operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. Among the victims were four crew members, a pediatric patient, and her escort.
The crash took place in a residential area near Roosevelt Mall in Northeast Philadelphia. Witnesses reported a bright flash of orange light followed by a loud explosion as the plane descended. The impact caused fires in several nearby homes and vehicles.
Emergency response teams from local and federal agencies arrived quickly at the scene. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Governor Josh Shapiro commended the swift actions of first responders. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
This incident follows a separate, devastating mid-air collision on January 29, 2025, near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. That collision resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals, including 64 passengers and crew members on the plane and three soldiers on the helicopter.
The aviation community is deeply affected by these events, and authorities are working diligently to uncover the causes of both tragedies to prevent similar incidents in the future.