Young girl receives life threatening operation, then dies in plane crash

This story is seriously heartbreaking.

A medical jet travelling from North Philadelphia Airport, PA (PNE/KPNE) to Springfield-Branson National Airport, MO (SGF/KSGF) carrying six people has crashed in Northeast Philadelphia, causing a massive explosion and multiple homes to catch fire.

The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Multiple videos show the plane plummeting from the sky, crashing to the ground and a massive explosion shortly after. Multiple homes in the area caught fire.

Preliminary ADS-B data indicates that, at about 18:06:10, the airplane departed runway 24 at PNE and entered a climb to an altitude of 1,650 ft. At about 18:06:56, the airplane entered a rapid descent towards the ground. The last recorded data point showed an average rate of -11000 fpm and a ground speed of 247 knots.

The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management alerted residents in the area that roads are closed near the mall and warned people to close their windows and stay away from the flames.

A young girl who was returning to Mexico after receiving treatment for a life-threatening illness in the U.S. was among the six people on board the flight.
They all remain unaccounted for.

Six people who were on the ground during the crash were also hospitalized. Three of the victims remain at Temple University Hospital's Jeanes Campus while three others were released.

Aircraft Information:

Owner: Jet Rescue Air Ambulance 

Aircraft: Learjet 55

Registration XA-UCI

Serial Number: 55-032

Engines: 2 x Garrett TFE731 Turbo's

First flew: January 1982

Age: 43 Years

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS INVOLVED