PHILADELPHIA, USA — A Learjet 55 air ambulance carrying six people crashed Friday, January 31, 2025, evening near Roosevelt Mall in northeast Philadelphia, killing all on board and one person on the ground.
Officials said 22 people were injured, five of whom remain hospitalised, including three in critical condition.
The aircraft, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was transporting a young patient back to Mexico after receiving medical treatment in the U.S.
The Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that all six onboard were Mexican nationals.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the accident, which officials say occurred without any distress calls from the flight crew before impact.
Victims Identified
The six people on board were identified as:
- Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales (pilot)
- Co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez
- Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo
- Paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla
- Patient Valentina Guzman Murillo
- Lizeth Murillo Ozuna (the patient’s mother)
A seventh person, who was in a car at the crash site, was also killed.
“We have not, out of respect for their families and their loved ones, shared the names of any of those who have been impacted,” Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said.
Flight Path and Crash Details
The Learjet 55 departed Florida at noon, landing at Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 2:15 p.m. before taking off again at 6:06 p.m. for Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, where it was set to refuel before flying to Tijuana International Airport.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft climbed to about 1,500 feet, made a right turn, then a left turn, before entering a steep descent and crashing just minutes later, around 6:30 p.m.
Cockpit Voice Recorder Recovered
Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage, which was buried eight feet deep at the crash site.
The device, though likely damaged, is considered a crucial piece of evidence for determining the cause of the accident.
Officials also located the aircraft’s enhanced ground proximity warning system, which may contain flight data.
Both components have been sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for analysis.
Investigators do not believe the aircraft shed debris before impact. However, they are encouraging witnesses to share videos that could provide further clues.
Eyewitness Accounts
Odalis Acosta, 29, was working at the Four Seasons Diner when she heard a massive explosion.
“Everything shook,” she said.
“People in the restaurant dropped to the ground as the glass around them shattered. A heavy piece of metal hit a customer in the head.”
Video footage captured flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site, where debris was scattered across a four-to-six-block radius.
Wreckage Recovery and Investigation
Both jet engines have been recovered and are being examined.
The NTSB expects to continue recovery efforts through Monday, with wreckage transported to a secure location in Delaware for further analysis.
The air ambulance crash comes just days after a devastating midair collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people.
Officials have yet to determine a cause for Friday’s crash but emphasize that all evidence—including flight data, maintenance records, and pilot history—will be thoroughly examined in the ongoing investigation.
