All six people killed in the medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia on January 31 were Mexican nationals, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry confirmed.
“The airline… has confirmed to the consulate that all six passengers on board were Mexican citizens,” Mexico’s Foreign Ministry stated on social media platform X on February 1.
The Learjet 55, operating as an air ambulance, was carrying a pediatric patient, the child’s mother, and four crew members when it crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff, bursting into flames and setting multiple homes ablaze in northeast Philadelphia, according to U.S. media reports.
No Survivors Confirmed
“We cannot confirm any survivors,” said Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company operating the Learjet 55.
“Our immediate concern is for the patient’s family, our employees, their loved ones, and any individuals affected on the ground,” the company added.
Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold confirmed to NBC News that the flight was transporting a young girl back home to Tijuana, Mexico, after receiving medical treatment in the United States.
Onboard the aircraft were:
- The pediatric patient
- The child’s mother
- The pilot
- The co-pilot
- A doctor
- A paramedic
“All I can say is that the patient was sponsored by a third-party charity organization for treatment in the United States,” Gold explained. “She had completed her care and was on her way home. She fought so hard to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy happened on her way back.”
Aircraft Registered in Mexico
Philadelphia police confirmed that the aircraft was operating as a medical transport flight.
This marks Jet Rescue’s second fatal crash in 15 months. In 2023, five crew members died when one of the company’s planes overshot the runway in Morelos, Mexico, and crashed into a hillside.
The Philadelphia crash occurred less than 5 km from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a facility primarily serving commercial jets and charter flights.
The incident follows another deadly aviation disaster earlier this week, when an American Airlines jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., killing 67 people—the deadliest U.S. plane crash since 2009.
FAA Confirms Investigation
Images from the crash site showed multiple homes engulfed in flames.
Fire officials reported that several structures caught fire after the crash around 8:00 p.m. ET near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially stated that there were two people aboard the plane but later revised its report, confirming there were six passengers.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that at least six people were on the aircraft.
The FAA stated that the Learjet 55 was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation.
Flight data showed that the aircraft took off at 6:06 p.m. ET but disappeared from radar 30 seconds later after reaching an altitude of 487 meters (1,600 feet). The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The aircraft was registered under Med Jets, a company operating medical transport flights.
Ground Casualties Still Unclear
State and local officials said they could not yet confirm whether anyone on the ground was killed when the jet crashed into the densely populated neighborhood.
Philadelphia police reported injuries on the ground, but further details remain unknown.
At a press briefing at the crash site, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the tragic loss of life.
“We know there will be casualties in this area,” Shapiro said. “We want to extend our deepest condolences and prayers to those who are grieving at this moment.”
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