By Youssef Yahya 
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has successfully recovered the black box from the Learjet 55 air ambulance that crashed in Philadelphia. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was found buried eight feet underground, and investigators hope it will provide crucial insight into the cause of the tragic accident on January 31, 2025.
Death Toll Increases as Philadelphia Mayor Confirms Seventh Victim
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced on February 1, 2025, that a seventh fatality has been confirmed. The deceased was inside a vehicle at the time of impact, while two other passengers in the same car suffered severe, life-threatening injuries.
The total number of injured victims has risen to 22, with five individuals still hospitalized—three of whom remain in critical condition.
“Today we learned that a seventh person lost their life in this devastating event that has stunned the many citizens living in Northeast Philadelphia, specifically, the neighborhoods experiencing the most trauma following the crash,”
said Mayor Parker.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance Identifies Victims of Learjet 55 Air Ambulance Crash
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance has officially released the names of all individuals on board. Among them was a young patient and her mother, who were being transported home to Mexico after the child received medical care at Shriners Children’s Hospital.
The crew members were identified as Captain Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, Copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez, Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, and Paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla. The child patient was named Valentina Guzman Murillo, and her mother was Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.
A spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating,
“Shriners Children’s is heartbroken to confirm that one of our pediatric patients and the child’s mother were aboard the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance that crashed in Philadelphia this evening. 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.”
Investigators Recover Additional Flight Data Systems of Learjet 55 Air Ambulance Crash
In addition to the CVR, NTSB investigators retrieved the aircraft’s enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS), which could contain critical flight data. The Learjet’s engines have also been recovered for examination. Both the CVR and EGPWS will be transported to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC, for further analysis.
Preliminary Flight Data Reveals Rapid Descent
Initial ADS-B flight data provides a clearer picture of the aircraft’s final moments. The Learjet 55, registered as MTS56, departed from Runway 24 at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) at approximately 18:06 local time. The aircraft climbed to an altitude of 1,650 feet before suddenly entering a steep descent at 18:06:56. The last recorded data point indicated a rapid descent rate of -11,000 feet per minute, with a ground speed of 247 knots before impact.
The aircraft was scheduled for a stopover at Springfield Branson National Airport (SGF) in Missouri before continuing to its final destination, Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) in Mexico.
The NTSB’s ongoing investigation aims to determine the factors that led to the deadly crash, with further updates expected as analysis of the recovered flight data continues.
- Featured Image by Jared Solomon via X
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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