City of Philadelphia Provides Ongoing Updates and Statements to Keep Residents and Media Updated about the Plane Crash Tragedy in Northeast Philadelphia

A devastating plane crash occurred in Northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall at Cottman and Bustleton Avenues on Friday evening, January 31, 2025, at approximately 6:10 p.m. A private Learjet 55 - a medical transportation jet - departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport with two passengers, a mother and daughter, and four crew members were killed in the tragic crash. As more information is released about the reason for the crash, this blog will be updated.

According to the FAA, the aircraft was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, with a final destination in Mexico where the young child being treated for illness at Shriners Children's Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia lives. Flight logs show the plane was in the air for only a minute before it crashed.

Many people on the ground - in parking lots, on streets, in cars and homes in the area - were injured; the number of injured is yet to be released but the information shared at this time reports that a number of people were transported to Temple University Hospital, Jeans Campus in the Northeast. Others may have been transported to other hospitals but since there is an investigation underway and emergency operation, the number of people and the status of their injuries is yet to be released and further information about where they were transported is not yet available. The blog will be updated with that information as it is available.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker held a press briefing quickly after arriving the scene at 7 p.m. to give the public as much information that was available immediately; the Mayor was joined soon after by Governor Josh Shapiro and other City, State and Federal officials and provided a media update at 9:45 p.m. to provide additional details obtained.

"This is a tragedy in our city - people have lost their lives and many injured in this horrific crash and the damage is massive," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "Our prayers are with the families, friends, neighbors and all of those impacted by the tragic crash. We are unified in our approach - a One Philly philosophy with all hands-on deck. I am so grateful for the rapid response by our Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments, our Office of Emergency Management and Philadelphia Gas Works with federal, state, and local first responders who swarmed the scene in collaboration with all first responders on the ground."

"This is when you see the best of Philly," said Governor Josh Shapiro, who promised full support from the State of Pennsylvania. He was joined by teams of State troopers, PennDot and the State's Department of Environmental Protection.

Soon on the scene was the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and members of the FAA and NTSB that will conduct a full investigation. Results of the investigation will be shared on this blog post as they are received by the City.