Washington D.C, Indonesia Sentinel — On Friday, January 31, 2025, Philadelphia plane crash, killing at least seven people. The victims included six Mexican nationals aboard the plane and one person on the ground, confirmed the Mexican president and the mayor of Philadelphia on Saturday, February 1.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the media on Saturday, revealing that the individual on the ground was in a car at the crash site when the plane went down.
“So far, our count shows there are 19 injured,” said Parker in a press conference, as reported by Japan Today on Sunday, February 2.
In a separate statement, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), offering condolences and confirming that she had instructed her consular officials to assist the families of the six Mexican citizens who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Philadelphia Plane Crash involved, a medical jet owned by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was based in Mexico and operated under a license to fly in the United States. The plane had four crew members, one child patient, and the child’s mother on board, according to the company’s statement made on January 31. The child was in critical condition and had been transported to the U.S. for life-saving medical treatment before the tragic accident occurred.
Shai Gold, a spokesperson for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, confirmed to CNN that the child was on the way back to Tijuana, Mexico, following treatment in Philadelphia. The mother was accompanying her child on the return journey. The child, who was in the U.S. for medical care at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, had undergone a life-saving procedure.
“She had just completed her treatment, and she was on her way home,” said Gold to NBC 10 Philadelphia. “She fought very hard for her life, and unfortunately, this tragedy occurred during the return trip.”
The crash occurred late on the evening of January 31, 2025. The small aircraft was supposed to take the child and the mother back to Mexico following medical treatment in the U.S. Tragically, the plane went down before they could complete their journey.
Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia confirmed in a statement that one of their patients, a child, was on board the ill-fated flight along with the child’s mother.
“Shriners Children’s is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our patients and the patient’s mother were aboard the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance that crashed in Philadelphia last night,” the hospital’s statement read.
The hospital continued, expressing condolences to the family. “The child was being transported back to Mexico after receiving treatment at Shriners Children’s. Due to patient privacy concerns, we are unable to provide further details about the patient and family at this time,” they stated.
The tragedy has left many questions surrounding the exact cause of the crash. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were dispatched to the site to begin their investigation into the incident. The crash occurred in a residential area, but the plane did not hit any buildings, which may have limited further loss of life.
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The crash highlights the risks associated with medical air transport, particularly for vulnerable patients who are traveling long distances to seek critical care. Medical flights are often used when patients require specialized treatments not available in their home countries. The crash of the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance has drawn attention to the safety protocols and standards for air ambulances, which are used to transport seriously ill or injured patients across the globe.
As the investigation unfolds, the families of the victims, particularly the child and the mother, are left to mourn their loss. The Mexican government has pledged to provide assistance, and local officials are working to ensure the families receive the support they need during this difficult time.
(Becky)
