A tragic accident in Philadelphia has claimed the lives of seven people, including six aboard a medical transport jet and one in a nearby vehicle. The Learjet 55, carrying a child who had recently undergone treatment in the US along with her mother and four crew members, crashed shortly after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. Eyewitnesses reported a massive fireball and an explosion that shook houses in the vicinity.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, with possible delays in reporting the total number of casualties due to the extensive debris field stretching over several blocks. Initial reports confirmed 19 injuries, primarily minor, with most treated at local hospitals.
Among the deceased, Mexican nationals were identified, with condolences from the Mexican President following the incident. The aircraft was headed to Tijuana, Mexico, after a brief stop in Missouri. This tragic event occurred just days after a separate midair collision in Washington, DC, underlining concerns over aviation safety. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now collecting wreckage for examination, while air traffic control reportedly had no alarming communications prior to the crash.