Following the mid-air collision of a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington earlier this week authorities reported that a medical jet carrying six Mexican nationals crashed into a busy Philadelphia neighbourhood on Friday causing yet another aviation disaster in the United States.
According to the FAA the aircraft involved was an American-French business jet the Learjet 55 that had just departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport and was travelling to Branson Missouri.
She and her mother along with the flight and medical teams that accompanied them were killed in the crash according to the childrens hospital that treated the girl AFP reported.
“The patient had received care from Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was being transported back to her home country in Mexico on a contracted air ambulance when the crash happened,” said Mel Bower, a spokesman for Shriners Children’s.
Confirmation about Casualties
All six onboard were Mexican citizens according to a statement from country’s foreign ministry.
“The airline company confirmed to the consulate that six people of Mexican nationality were travelling on the aircraft,” the ministry wrote on X.
In a statement to US media the operator Jet Rescue Air Ambulance confirmed that there were two passengers and four crew members on the flight, adding, “At this time, we cannot confirm any survivors.”
Emergency workers gathered in large numbers at the scene, which was located outside Roosevelt Mall, a strip mall in Northeast Philadelphia featuring stores and food vendors.
Read More: Black Boxes Recovered After Deadly American Airline Crash
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday US President Donald Trump said he was sad to see more souls lost in the Philadelphia tragedy.
He praised first responders, adding, “God Bless you all.”
Witnesses told local media stations about seeing body parts in or near the wreckage and Mike Driscol,l a member of the Philadelphia City Council voiced concern that people on the ground or residents might have been killed. “It doesn’t look good. And it’s a sad situation here,” he told CNN.
The FAA said it was launching an investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board.
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