By Youssef Yahya 
A small private aircraft, a Learjet 55 (XA-UCI), crashes near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday night, shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) around 6 PM EST. The jet, operating under the “MEDIVAC” callsign, was carrying a patient and was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri when the incident occurred.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash took place around 6:30 PM near the 2900 block of Cottman Avenue. The exact cause remains unknown, and there has been no confirmation regarding potential injuries or casualties on the ground. However, officials reported multiple house and car fires resulting from the impact.
Video footage captured the aircraft crashing with a loud noise, followed by a burst of light illuminating the area. Emergency response teams, including firefighters and police officers, arrived swiftly at the scene to contain the fires and secure the crash site.
The City of Philadelphia declared the event a “major incident” in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), warning residents to stay clear of the Cottman and Bustleton Avenues area, including parts of Roosevelt Boulevard, which have been temporarily closed.
Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that he has spoken with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and is actively coordinating with local law enforcement and emergency services. In a statement, he assured that all necessary state resources are being provided to assist with the response efforts.
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also announced on X that he is closely monitoring the situation and heading to the FAA for further briefings.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the investigation, with support from the FAA, as officials work to determine the cause of the crash.
This tragic accident comes just days after a deadly midair collision involving an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities.
As this is a developing story, updates will follow as more details emerge.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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