Medical Plane Crash in Philadelphia Leaves Six Dead
Source: GreekReporter.com
A tragic plane crash took place in northeast Philadelphia, USA, on Friday evening, claiming the lives of six individuals.
All six victims were aboard a medical transport flight that went down in a densely populated neighborhood near Roosevelt Mall, injuring several people on the ground and causing extensive damage to homes and businesses.
The aircraft was a Learjet 55 and it was operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance.
The plane departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 6:30 p.m. local time and was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri.
Preliminary reports indicate that the plane went down less than four miles (6 kilometers) from the airport, igniting a massive fireball that engulfed nearby homes and vehicles.
Emergency personnel arrived quickly, bringing the fire under control within two hours. However, the damage was already extensive.
Among those aboard were four crew members, a young patient who had just completed treatment in Philadelphia and her mother. The patient and her family were returning to their home in Tijuana, Mexico.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance expressed its shock and grief over the tragedy, emphasising the experience of the flight crew but refraining from speculating on the cause of the crash.
Investigations underway for the plane crash in Philadelphia
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the US have already launched an investigation into the crash.
Preliminary reports indicate that the plane disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff, reaching an altitude of only 1,600 feet before plummeting into this densely populated residential area. Eyewitnesses described a catastrophic scene as debris scattered across streets and flaming wreckage struck vehicles and buildings.
Weather conditions at the time included rain and low visibility, which may have played a role in the accident.
Second plane crash in the US in a few days
This was the second crash, as a plane and a helicopter crashed in mid-air over Washington DC’s Potomac River, late on Wednesday. No one is believed to have survived.
Sixty-four people were on the American Airlines flight, and three were on the military helicopter when the aircraft collided near Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Emergency services chief John Donnelly says 28 bodies have been found so far.
The flight, operated by PSA, had been traveling from Wichita, Kansas, and was on approach and seconds away from landing when the crash happened.
The original article: belongs to GreekReporter.com .
